Acupuncture and Gabapentin for Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Inclusion criteria

• Women 18 years or older with a history of Stage I, II or III breast cancer for at least 12 months.
• Have been seen by an oncologist within the previous 6-month period and determined to be free of disease by clinical examination and history;
• Experienced at least two hot flashes daily over the seven-day screening period as based on the Daily Hot Flash Diary.
• Hot flashes have been present for at least a month before study entry.
• Willing to use non-hormonal contraceptives during the duration of the study if patient is premenopausal.

Exclusion criteria

• Having metastatic breast cancer ( IV)
• Currently on chemotherapy or radiation therapy as adjuvant treatment
• Started hormonal therapies such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors within the last 4 weeks; or plan to change or terminate hormonal therapies in the next 14 weeks.
• Started or changed with treatments for hot flashes, such as SSRIs or clonidine within the last 4 weeks; or plan to change or terminate these therapies in the next 14 weeks.
• Current use of estrogen and/or progestin.
• Pregnancy
• Breast feeding
• Bleeding disorder or current use of warfarin or heparin by patient history because of the use of needles.
• Previous use of gabapentin for hot flashes.
• Current use of any anti-convulsant.
• Renal dysfunction defined as serum creatinine concentration above 1.25 times the upper limit of normal
• Known allergy to gabapentin.