Hormone-Free Hot Flash Drug On Horizon
Hormone-Free Hot Flash Drug On Horizon
But Experimental Drug Pristiq Gets Mixed Reviews
May 9, 2007 (San Diego) -- An experimental treatment for menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats that doesn’t use hormones generally works well, researchers report.
The new medication, called Pristiq, is under review by the FDA, according to the manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
"Pristiq is going to fill a needed void," says David Archer, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.
He's referring to the void left when legions of women gave up hormone replacement therapy after a federally funded trial in 2002 showed that long-term hormone therapy boosts risks of heart attack, breast cancer, and other problems. Archer led clinical trials of Pristiq and has worked as a consultant for Wyeth.
But another expert not involved in the research cautions that the studies are preliminary and the exact role the new medication will have in relief of menopausal symptoms is yet to be determined.
Researchers presented the studies at the 55th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in San Diego.
Pristiq is a modified version of Wyeth's antidepressantEffexor, Archer says. Effexor and Pristiq belong to a class of drugs known as serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs.
When a woman is going through menopause, fluctuations in estrogen may diminish both brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine, according to Wyeth. Pristiq is thought to work by making more of both substances available, improving mood and menopausal symptoms in the process.
In five studies presented Tuesday and Wednesday at the meeting, Pristiq was evaluated for its value in relieving hot flashes and night sweats, reducing nighttime awakenings from night sweats, and improving mood. Because sexual problems have been associated with the use of some antidepressants, another study looked at whether Pristiq affected women's sex lives.
The results were mixed:
Hot flashes. In a study of 541 women with 50 or more moderate to severe hot flashes weekly, the 100-milligram dose of Pristiq reduced hot flashes by nearly 60% at week 12, and the 150-milligram dose reduced them by 66%. In comparison, placebo reduced them by 47%, says Archer, an author of that study.
Hormone-Free Hot Flash Drug on Horizon
But Experimental Drug Pristiq Gets Mixed Reviews
May 9, 2007 (San Diego) -- An experimental treatment for menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats that doesn’t use hormones generally works well, researchers report.
The new medication, called Pristiq, is under review by the FDA, according to the manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
"Pristiq is going to fill a needed void," says David Archer, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.
He's referring to the void left when legions of women gave up hormone replacement therapy after a federally funded trial in 2002 showed that long-term hormone therapy boosts risks of heart attack, breast cancer, and other problems. Archer led clinical trials of Pristiq and has worked as a consultant for Wyeth.
But another expert not involved in the research cautions that the studies are preliminary and the exact role the new medication will have in relief of menopausal symptoms is yet to be determined.
Researchers presented the studies at the 55th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in San Diego.
About Pristiq
Pristiq is a modified version of Wyeth's antidepressantEffexor, Archer says. Effexor and Pristiq belong to a class of drugs known as serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs.
When a woman is going through menopause, fluctuations in estrogen may diminish both brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine, according to Wyeth. Pristiq is thought to work by making more of both substances available, improving mood and menopausal symptoms in the process.
Mixed Results
In five studies presented Tuesday and Wednesday at the meeting, Pristiq was evaluated for its value in relieving hot flashes and night sweats, reducing nighttime awakenings from night sweats, and improving mood. Because sexual problems have been associated with the use of some antidepressants, another study looked at whether Pristiq affected women's sex lives.
The results were mixed:
Hot flashes. In a study of 541 women with 50 or more moderate to severe hot flashes weekly, the 100-milligram dose of Pristiq reduced hot flashes by nearly 60% at week 12, and the 150-milligram dose reduced them by 66%. In comparison, placebo reduced them by 47%, says Archer, an author of that study.