Bladder Drug Cuts Prostate Cancer Hot Flashes by 79%

Up to 80% of men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer experience hot flashes so severe they disrupt sleep, drain energy, and cause many to quit treatment altogether. Now a nationwide clinical trial has discovered an unexpected solution hiding in plain sight.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology tested oxybutynin, a medication typically prescribed for overactive bladder, on 81 men undergoing prostate cancer treatment. The results exceeded expectations.

Men taking the higher dose of oxybutynin experienced nearly seven fewer hot flashes per day compared to those taking a placebo. The placebo group saw their hot flashes drop by just over two per day, while those on the medication saw reductions of up to 6.89 episodes daily.

Even more encouraging, 79% of men taking the higher dose achieved at least a 50% reduction in their hot flash symptoms. Only 32% of those taking the placebo saw similar improvements.

The relief came quickly. Many participants noticed improvements during the first week of treatment, and the benefits lasted throughout the six-week study period.

Hormone therapy works by lowering testosterone levels that fuel prostate cancer cells. While effective against cancer, this treatment triggers hot flashes that can feel overwhelming and often force men to abandon a therapy that could save their lives.

The Bright Side

Dr. Bradley Stish, the study's lead investigator, emphasized what this means for patients facing an impossible choice between cancer treatment and quality of life. The medication offers clinically meaningful improvements without serious side effects.

The most common complaint was dry mouth, which participants found manageable. The drug is already FDA-approved and widely available, meaning doctors can prescribe it immediately without waiting for additional approvals.

For the 88 men enrolled across 15 cancer centers, the average age was 68.5. These results offer hope to thousands facing similar struggles with a side effect that medical teams have historically struggled to address effectively.

The research team plans to continue studying treatment options for hot flashes in this patient population, but men dealing with this challenge now have a proven option that can help them stay on life-saving therapy.