Premium
Duloxetine and escitalopram for hot flushes: efficacy and compliance in breast cancer survivors
Author(s) -
Biglia N.,
Bounous V.E.,
Susini T.,
Pecchio S.,
Sgro L.G.,
Tuninetti V.,
Torta R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12484
Subject(s) - escitalopram , duloxetine , medicine , tolerability , depression (economics) , reuptake inhibitor , rating scale , psychiatry , antidepressant , adverse effect , psychology , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , macroeconomics , pathology , hippocampus , economics
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRI ) might be an effective treatment for hot flushes ( HF s) in breast cancer survivors ( BCS s). This study aims to compare the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine ( SNRI ) versus escitalopram ( SSRI ) in reducing frequency and severity of HF s in BCS s and to assess the effect on depression. Thirty‐four symptomatic BCS s with emotional impairment received randomly duloxetine 60 mg daily or escitalopram 20 mg daily for 12 weeks. Patients were asked to record in a diary HF frequency and severity at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. Depression was evaluated through validated questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale) at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. Both drugs showed a significant reduction of HF frequency and severity after 12 weeks of treatment with no significant difference between the two groups. A significant improvement in depression symptoms was observed at the end of the study period within both the groups, without difference between the two drugs. In conclusion, escitalopram and duloxetine are both effective treatment for the relief of HF s in BCS s, with similar beneficial effect. A significant improvement of depression was obtained with no major side effects.