Gabapentin With or Without Antidepressants in Treating Hot Flashes in Women Who Have Had Breast Cancer or Have Concerns About Taking Hormone Therapy

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• History of breast cancer OR a concern about taking hormonal therapy due to a fear of developing breast cancer
• Experiencing bothersome hot flashes, defined as patient-reported occurrence ≥ 14 times per week AND sufficiently severe to prompt desire for additional therapeutic intervention despite current use of an antidepressant
• * Currently (≥ 2 weeks) being treated with a stable dose of an antidepressant
• * No monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclics
• No current evidence of malignant disease
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Sex
• Female
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy
• At least 6 months
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Chemotherapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior antineoplastic chemotherapy
• No concurrent antineoplastic chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior androgens, estrogens, or progestational agents
• More than 2 weeks since prior dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for treatment of hot flashes
• No concurrent androgens, estrogens, or progestational agents, including oral contraceptives
• No concurrent DHEA for treatment of hot flashes
• Concurrent tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitor therapy allowed if on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry and during study treatment
• Other
• No prior gabapentin
• More than 2 weeks since other prior treatment for hot flashes (e.g., clonidine or Bellergal-S®)
• Concurrent vitamin E or soy supplements allowed if on a stable dose for at least 1 month prior to study entry and during study treatment
• No other concurrent treatment for hot flashes (e.g., clonidine or Bellergal-S®)
• No other concurrent antidepressants