MsFLASH-03: Comparative Efficacy of Low-Dose Estradiol and Venlafaxine XR for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause Clinical Trial

Official title:

MsFLASH-03: Comparative Efficacy of Low-Dose Estradiol and the SNRI Venlafaxine XR for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01418209
• Other study ID #: MsFLASH-03
• Secondary ID: 1U01AG032700-011
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: August 15, 2011
• Last updated: August 20, 2014
• Start date: November 2011
• Est. completion date: January 2013

Study information

• Verified date: August 2014
• Source: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The primary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of both low-dose oral (by mouth) 17-ß-estradiol and the non-hormonal drug venlafaxine XR compared to placebo in reducing hot flashes. Included in this objective is the intention to compare venlafaxine XR to estradiol therapy, to provide evidence of the relative efficacy of venlafaxine to what is currently considered the most established but also a controversial therapy. 17-ß-estradiol is a type of estrogen. Venlafaxine XR is the extended release (XR) version of venlafaxine. Venlafaxine XR is an serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). A placebo is a substance containing no medication.

Description:

The MsFLASH-03 study (Menopausal Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health - 03), Comparative Efficacy of Low-Dose Estradiol and the SNRI Venlafaxine XR for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three arm clinical trial. The design includes: 3 weeks of daily recording of hot flashes prior to drug treatment; 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with oral estradiol, venlafaxine, or placebo; followed by 14 days of drug taper for those on venlafaxine and 14 days of progesterone treatment for those on estradiol; followed by 2 weeks with no treatment for all groups; and a telephone follow-up post-treatment.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 339
• Est. completion date: January 2013
• Est. primary completion date: January 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 40 Years to 62 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Females aged 40-62 years

• Postmenopausal or perimenopausal

• Having bothersome hot flashes

• In general good health

• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent use of systemic hormone therapy or hormonal contraceptives

• Recent use of any prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal therapies that are taken specifically for hot flashes

• Recent use of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) or aromatase inhibitors

• Recent use of psychotropic medications, including SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), and other antidepressants and anxiolytics.

• Known hypersensitivity or contraindications (reasons not to take) to venlafaxine, estrogen, or progestins

• Not using a medically approved method of birth control, if sexually active and not 12 or more months since last menstrual period

• Recent drug or alcohol abuse

• Lifetime diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar disorder

• Suicide attempt in the past 3 years or any current suicidal ideation

• Current major depression (assessed during screening)

• Pregnancy, intending pregnancy, or breast feeding

• History of:

• Pre-breast cancer or high-risk breast cancer condition

• Abnormal bleeding suggestive of endometrial pre-cancer or endometrial hyperplasia

• Asthma, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, and migraine disorders that are not stable or under medical management

• Abnormal screening blood tests

• Current participation in another drug trial or intervention study

• Inability or unwillingness to complete the study procedures

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hot Flashes
• Menopause
• Vasomotor Disturbance

Intervention

Drug:
• Low-dose 17-ß-estradiol with progesterone taper
Low-dose 17-ß-estradiol oral (by mouth), 0.5 mg once per day for 8 (eight) weeks. 17-ß-estradiol is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is indicated for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. ß is the Greek symbol for beta; the symbol and the word are used interchangeably. The 8 week estradiol treatment is followed by 14 days (2 weeks) of progesterone taper (as medroxy-progesterone 10 mg/day).
• Venlafaxine XR
Venlafaxine oral (by mouth) 37.5 mg once per day for 1 (one) week, then 75 mg once per day for 7 (seven) weeks. Venlafaxine XR should not be taken while also taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Venlafaxine XR is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, and is available by prescription. Venlafaxine XR is not FDA-approved for the treatment of hot flashes, although prior studies have indicated that it is useful for treating hot flashes and vasomotor symptoms. After the 8-week venlafaxine XR study treatment period, women will receive a tapering dose of venlafaxine XR 37.5 mg once per day for 14 days (2 weeks).
• Placebo
The placebo is an inactive pill that looks like the active medication.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School (HU)	Boston	Massachusetts
United States	Brigham and Women's Hospital	Chestnut Hill	Massachusetts
United States	University of Pennsylvania, UP	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania
United States	Group Health Research Institute (GHRI)	Seattle	Washington

Sponsors (5)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center	Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Frequency of Hot Flashes (Vasomotor Symptom [VMS] Frequency) -- Week 4	Measured by self-report diary twice daily (day and night). The day and night frequencies were summed to produce a single number of hot flashes per day. The single number of hot flashes per day were summed and averaged for one week prior to the week 4 study assessment to produce a mean daily frequency for week 4.	Week 4	No
Primary	Frequency of Hot Flashes (Daily Vasomotor Symptom [VMS] Frequency) -- Week 8	Measured by self-report diary twice daily (day and night). The day and night frequencies were summed to produce a single number of hot flashes per day. The single number of hot flashes per day were summed and averaged for one week prior to the week 8 study assessment to produce a mean daily frequency for week 8.	Week 8	No
Secondary	Severity of Hot Flashes -- Week 4	Measured by self-report diary twice daily (day and night) for 7 days. Severity ratings ranged from 0 to 3 with lower numbers being less severe and higher numbers being more severe. Data from the day and night severity ratings were averaged for a single daily score. The single daily scores for the week prior to the week 4 study assessment were summed and averaged to produce a mean daily VMS severity for week 4.	Week 4	No
Secondary	Severity of Hot Flashes -- Week 8	Measured by self-report diary twice daily (day and night) for 7 days. Severity ratings ranged from 0 to 3 with lower numbers being less severe and higher numbers being more severe. Data from the day and night severity ratings were averaged for a single daily score. The single daily scores for the week prior to the week 8 study assessment were summed and averaged to produce a mean daily VMS severity for week 8.	Week 8	No
Secondary	Bothersomeness of Hot Flashes -- Week 4	Measured by self-report diary twice daily (day and night) for 7 days. Bothersomeness ratings ranged from 0 to 3 with lower numbers being less bothersome and higher numbers being more bothersome. Data from the day and night bothersomeness ratings were averaged for a single daily score. The single daily scores for the week prior to the week 4 study assessment were summed and averaged to produce a mean daily VMS bothersomeness for week 4.	Week 4	No
Secondary	Bothersomeness of Hot Flashes -- Week 8	Measured by self-report diary twice daily (day and night) for 7 days. Bothersomeness ratings ranged from 0 to 3 with lower numbers being less bothersome and higher numbers being more bothersome. Data from the day and night bothersomeness ratings were averaged for a single daily score. The single daily scores for the week prior to the week 8 study assessment were summed and averaged to produce a mean daily VMS bothersomeness for week 8.	Week 8	No
Secondary	Perceived Hot Flash Interference (Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale; HFRDIS) -- Week 4	The perceived hot flash related daily interference scale (HFRDIS) is a tool for assessing the impact of hot flashes on quality of life. There are 10 questions with each having a score ranging from 0 to 10. The scores from each question are summed for a total score ranging from 0 to 100. Lower numbers indicate less interference and higher numbers indicate more interference.	Week 4	No
Secondary	Perceived Hot Flash Interference (Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale; HFRDIS) -- Week 8	The perceived hot flash related daily interference scale (HFRDIS) is a tool for assessing the impact of hot flashes on quality of life. There are 10 questions with each having a score ranging from 0 to 10. The scores from each question are summed for a total score ranging from 0 to 100. Lower numbers indicate less interference and higher numbers indicate more interference.	Week 8	No