Hot flushes caused by androgen suppression for malignant disease

Treatment of hot flushes caused by androgen suppression for malignant disease

Progestogen for treatment of hot flushes caused by androgen suppression for malignant disease.


Medroxyprogesterone
Medroxyprogesterone 10mg tablets

Hot flushes caused by long-term androgen suppression in men with prostate cancer, 20 mg once daily initially for 10 weeks, evaluate effect at the end of the treatment period.

Megestrol
Megestrol 40mg tablets

For menopausal symptoms in women receiving endocrine therapy, 40mg daily.
Hot flushes caused by long-term androgen suppression in men with prostate cancer, if medroxyprogesterone not effective consider megesterol 20mg twice daily for 4 weeks, evaluate effect at the end of the treatment period.

Progestogen for treatment of hot flushes caused by androgen suppression for malignant disease in adult males only.

Cyproterone
Cyproterone 50mg tablets

Hot flushes caused by long-term androgen suppression in men with prostate cancer, 50-150mg in 1-3 divided doses for 3-4 weeks, evaluate effect at the end of the treatment period.

Prescribing Notes:

  • Recommend non-pharmacological strategies for symptom management.
  • Gonadorelin analogues can cause menopause like symptoms such as hot flushes.
  • Cyproterone is the preferred treatment of hot flushes caused by androgen suppression in men with prostate cancer.
  • Progestogens should be used with caution in conditions that may worsen with fluid retention and in those susceptible to thromboembolism.

History Notes

16/11/2023

Cyproterone added, dosing information and prescribing notes updated, ERWG May 23.

01/03/2023

East Region Formulary content agreed.