The broad goal of this study is to obtain pilot data to determine the tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the non-hormonal agent gabapentin for insomnia symptoms and nighttime vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) when open-label gabapentin is administered at low dose and only at night in peri- and postmenopausal women. We hypothesize that the majority of participants will be able to increase and tolerate treatment, and insomnia symptoms and the frequency of nighttime VMS will improve on low-dose gabapentin dosed at bedtime.
Thirty-two peri- and postmenopausal women at the Boston sites (MGH and BWH) were enrolled into this open-label pilot study. The study was a 7-week intervention study using open-label gabapentin at bedtime with a scheduled dose titration from 100-mg for one week, followed by 300-mg for 3 weeks, and then 600-mg for 3 weeks. The intervention study followed a 3-week screening period to establish a stable baseline for insomnia symptoms and VMS and to determine the safety of administering gabapentin in study participants. Tolerability and treatment response (insomnia symptoms, nighttime VMS) were assessed systematically at each study visit. The dose titration schedule was followed in all participants unless there are dose-limiting toxicities.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32
The study is a 7-week intervention study using open-label gabapentin at bedtime with a scheduled dose titration from 100-mg for one week, followed by 300-mg for 3 weeks, and then 600-mg for 3 weeks.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Tolerability of Gabapentin
Tolerability of gabapentin was assessed by self-report at the week 1, week 4 and week 7 contacts by asking participants to complete the SAFTEE-SI and CPFQ questionnaires and prompting subjects to report any adverse events at each study visit. Tolerability of gabapentin is defined as the proportion of participants that is able to increase the dose from 300-mg to 600-mg and to remain on the higher dose for the duration of the trial.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 visit, and study completion at 7 weeks
Reason for Non-tolerability and Discontinuation of Gabapentin
Reason why subjects who initiated treatment with gabapentin chose to discontinue before study completion
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 Visit, and study completion at 7 weeks
Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) Frequency, Severity, and Bothersomeness During Daytime
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) were tracked and quantified prospectively using a daily hot flash diary. The hot flash diary was adapted from a 7-day self-report tool for vasomotor symptoms originally developed by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG). The diary asks for the subject to log number of hot flashes during the day and night, severity of hot flashes during day and night, and how bothersome the hot flashes were during day and night. Vasomotor symptoms were also systematically assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 7 using the Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS), a 10-item self-report questionnaire to determine perceived hot flash interference with quality of life and daily activities.
Time frame: Baseline, study completion at 7 weeks
Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) Frequency, Severity, and Bothersomeness During Nighttime
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) were tracked and quantified prospectively using a daily hot flash diary. The hot flash diary was adapted from a 7-day self-report tool for vasomotor symptoms originally developed by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG). The diary asks for the subject to log number of hot flashes during the day and night, severity of hot flashes during day and night, and how bothersome the hot flashes were during day and night. Vasomotor symptoms were also systematically assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 7 using the Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS), a 10-item self-report questionnaire to determine perceived hot flash interference with quality of life and daily activities.
Time frame: Baseline, study completion at 7 weeks
Severity of Insomnia
Severity of insomnia was measured throughout the study using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) .The ISI is a 7-item scale that evaluates the severity of insomnia retrospectively over the past week. The scale is more specific to insomnia symptoms than the Pittsburgh scale (PSQI), which focuses more broadly on overall sleep quality. The ISI score ranges from a minimum of 0 to 28. A score of 0-7=no clinically significant insomnia, 8-14=subthreshold insomnia, 5-21=clinical insomnia (moderate severity), 22-28=clinical insomnia (severe), with higher values indicating more severe insomnia.
Time frame: Baseline, study completion at 7 weeks
Sleep Quality and Disturbances Over Past Month
Sleep quality and disturbances during the past month were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The PSQI also incorporates daytime functioning into the total score. In scoring the PSQI, seven component scores are derived, each scored 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (severe difficulty). The component scores are summed to produce a global score (range 0 to 21). Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline, study completion at 7 weeks
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