Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms - AHRQ Archive ...

Gabapentin use reduced levels of albumin, total protein, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen,and platelets compared to placebo. Somnolence, dizziness, rash, and peripheral edema werereported for gabapentin but not placebo. Fifty percent of the gabapentin group and 28 percent ofthe placebo group reported at least one adverse event.Bellergal. One poor-quality trial compared Bellergal Retard, a combination of 0.6 mgergotamine, 40 mg phenobarbital, and 0.2 mg levorotatory alkaloids, with placebo (Table 11). 20There were no statistically significant differences between Bellergal and placebo in measures ofvasomotor symptoms, insomnia, nervousness, hyperirritability, headache, paresthesia, loss oflibido, and dizziness.Adverse effects were similar between groups and included dry mouth, dizziness, andsleepiness.PhytoestrogensA total of 195 abstracts were identified and 21 randomized controlled trials met inclusioncriteria (Table 12, Appendix 6-8). Trials used dietary soy isoflavones, 203-213 soy isoflavoneextracts, 214-218 other forms of phytoestrogens, 219-223 and phytoestrogens combined with otheragents. 224 Eight additional studies were reported in abstract form and are included only in theevidence table (Appendix 6-8). 225-232Soy isoflavones—dietary. Dietary forms of soy isoflavones were compared to placebo in 10trials (Table 12) that included soy powder, 203,204,211,213 cereal, 205 drink, 206,212 diet, 208,211 flour, 209and tablets. 207,210 Of these, seven were rated fair-quality, 203,204,206,207,209-212 and threepoor. 205,208,213 Outcomes included hot flashes, sleep, mood or depression, vaginal dryness, sexualsymptoms, scores on symptoms scales, and single trials reporting palpitations, headaches, andgeneral health.Of the eight trials providing between group comparisons, one fair-quality and one poorqualitytrial reported improved hot flashes with soy compared to placebo 203,204,213 and sixreported no differences. 205,206,209-212 A fair-quality trial of soy powder reported improved hotflash frequency with soy compared to placebo (44 percent vs. 31 percent, p