BACKGROUND: To evaluate the differences between the immediate and tapered cessation protocols of hormone therapy in terms of recurrence of menopausal symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomized clinical study 70 consecutive patients in whom hormone therapy was no longer preferred were recruited from the menopause clinic of a university hospital and rank randomized into two groups. In group 1 (n=35) hormone therapy was immediately discontinued and in group 2 (n=35) the medication was tapered. Every patient was questioned about vasomotor symptoms before the initiation of hormone therapy at the first visit, and then revisited at the end of 2 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: We did not find any statistically significant difference between two protocols in terms of symptom severity and frequency at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of discontinuation. Although statistically insignificant, the symptoms tended to recur in fewer patients and in a less severe form in both groups when compared with their pretreatment status. CONCLUSIONS: Tapering or immediate discontinuing of hormone therapy did not affect the recurrence rate and severity of menopausal symptoms at the end of 4 weeks.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the differences between the immediate and tapered cessation protocols of hormone therapy in terms of recurrence of menopausal symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomized clinical study 70 consecutive patients in whom hormone therapy was no longer preferred were recruited from the menopause clinic of a university hospital and rank randomized into two groups. In group 1 (n=35) hormone therapy was immediately discontinued and in group 2 (n=35) the medication was tapered. Every patient was questioned about vasomotor symptoms before the initiation of hormone therapy at the first visit, and then revisited at the end of 2 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: We did not find any statistically significant difference between two protocols in terms of symptom severity and frequency at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of discontinuation. Although statistically insignificant, the symptoms tended to recur in fewer patients and in a less severe form in both groups when compared with their pretreatment status. CONCLUSIONS: Tapering or immediate discontinuing of hormone therapy did not affect the recurrence rate and severity of menopausal symptoms at the end of 4 weeks.
Authors: Wulf H Utian; David F Archer; Gloria A Bachmann; Christopher Gallagher; Francine n Grodstein; Julia R Heiman; Victor W Henderson; Howard N Hodis; Richard H Karas; Rogerio A Lobo; JoAnn E Manson; Robert L Reid; Peter J Schmidt; Cynthia A Stuenkel Journal: Menopause Date: 2008 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.953