Duloxetine and Escitalopram for Hot Flushes: Efficacy and Compliance in Breast Cancer Survivors
Original Article Duloxetine and escitalopram for hot flushes: efficacy and compliance in breast cancer survivors N. BIGLIA, MD, PHD, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, V.E. BOUNOUS, MD, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, T. SUSINI, MD, PHD, Breast Unit Department of Health Science, OB & GYN Section, AOU Careggi, School of Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, S. PECCHIO, MD, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, L.G. SGRO, MD, PHD, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, V. TUNINETTI, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, & R. TORTA, MD, PHD, Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy BIGLIA N., BOUNOUS V.E., SUSINI T., PECCHIO S., SGRO L.G., TUNINETTI V. & TORTA R. (2016) Euro- pean Journal of Cancer Care Duloxetine and escitalopram for hot flushes: efficacy and compliance in breast cancer survivors Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) might be an effective treatment for hot flushes (HFs) in breast cancer survivors (BCSs). This study aims to compare the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine (SNRI) versus escitalopram (SSRI) in reducing frequency and severity of HFs in BCSs and to assess the effect on depression. Thirty-four symptomatic BCSs 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.
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