Safety of alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms after breast cancer: a qualitative systematic review

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#antidepressive-agents #breast-neoplasms #estrogen-receptor-modulators #female #histamine-h1-antagonists

Safety of alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms after breast cancer: a qualitative systematic review

Antoine et al., 2007 | Climacteric | Systematic Review

Citation

Antoine C, Liebens F, ... Rozenberg S. Safety of alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms after breast cancer: a qualitative systematic review. Climacteric. 2007-Feb;10(1):23-6

Abstract

AIM: This qualitative review analyzes systematically the safety of drugs used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, other than hormone replacement therapy, in breast cancer patients. METHODS: We searched systematically studies using tibolone, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, clonidine, veralipride, gabapentin, black cohosh and phytoestrogens in breast cancer patients. We selected five studies for which we evaluated the methodology, characteristics of the studied populations, outcomes in terms of mortality and recurrence rates. RESULTS: Four trials were conducted using tibolone in breast cancer patients: one double-blind, randomized trial, one prospective controlled study, and two uncontrolled studies. They considerably lack power to detect any difference in breast cancer recurrence or mortality between the treated and control patients. Similar conclusions have to be drawn from the only controlled retrospective study analyzing the safety of antidepressants and antihistamines. We were unable to find studies reporting the safety of the other drugs in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: There are no valuable data indicating the absence of a harmful effect of drugs used to alleviate climacteric symptoms in breast cancer patients. There is a need for randomized trials to assess the safety of these drugs. In the meantime, patients should be informed about the absence of safety data.

Key Findings

Four trials were conducted using tibolone in breast cancer patients: one double-blind, randomized trial, one prospective controlled study, and two uncontrolled studies. They considerably lack power to detect any difference in breast cancer recurrence or mortality between the treated and control patients. Similar conclusions have to be drawn from the only controlled retrospective study analyzing the safety of antidepressants and antihistamines. We were unable to find studies reporting the safety

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Female
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Hot Flashes
  • Humans
  • Menopause
  • Norpregnenes

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: black-cohosh

Provenance

  • PMID: 17364601
  • DOI: (not available)
  • PMCID: Not in PMC
  • Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09