Seizure Drug Curbs Hot Flashes

Filed in archive Menopause , Sleep Disorders on September 15, 2009

© Chapendra

The seizure drug gabapentin improved the quality of sleep in menopausal women suffering from hot flashes.

Such were the findings of University of Rochester Medical Center researchers reported in the Journal of Women's Health.

The study is the first to show sustained benefits in sleep quality from gabapentin, which Rochester researchers already have demonstrated alleviates hot flashes.

"Gabapentin improves sleep quality but does not have the potential dependency problems of some other sleep medications and does not involve the use of hormone replacement therapy," said Michael E. Yurcheshen, M.D., assistant professor of Neurology and the lead author of the article.

"It has minimal side effects and it is a generic drug," said Yurcheshen, who is based at the Strong Sleep Disorders Center. "That makes it a very attractive treatment for these problems in this patient population."

Some 40% of menopausal women can't sleep, have trouble sleeping and can't stay asleep all night. Hot flashes is the culprit. If gabapentin can help these women sleep, then the better it is. I just hope that the good effects outweighs the side effects.