Can alternative medicine do better than placebo?: Does it even matter?

I would like to express my appreciation to the editor of CUAJ for publishing an alternative medicine article and to the authors for completing an alternative medicine study in urology.¹ Some people would argue that this trial is too small for publication, but I would argue that if the reader has ever attempted to garner funding for any alternative medicine trial that this trial is more than adequate. This article is another example of the change in research objectives; there is more research in alternative medicine now than there was when I first started working and teaching in the field of urology about 15 years ago. Note my use of the word “alternative medicine” and not the more politically correct “integrative/complementary medicine” that some use to give the appearance of a more gentle and standardized treatment or approach. It was the late Dr. William Fair from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center who reminded me that when something alternative gets adequate research, it will no longer be considered alternative but mainstream. For example, consider the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements for men receiving androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) for prostate cancer.²

There seems to be a generalized belief that men with prostate cancer have a plethora of conventional safe options when dealing with hot flashes due to ADT. This could not be further from the truth, which was insightfully mentioned the CUAJ article by Al-Bareeq and colleagues.¹ All currently used conventional options have serious potential questions and concerns. For example, progesterone-like agents, arguably one of the most effective and popular medications, can potentially cause weight gain, high density lipoprotein reductions, appetite stimulation, exacerbate the effects of sarcopenia, and may have negative impacts on bone health.³ Antiandrogens, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and estrogens are not without their own overt toxicities and potential cardiovascular concerns; along with the now well-recognized side effects and current unresolved cardiovascular concerns of ADT itself.^4–6 Anti-seizure medications require dose-escalation and may exacerbate already well-known side effects of ADT, such as fatigue.^7,8 What is the clinician and patient to do after weighing the benefits and risks? Arguably, alternative medicine remedies for hot flashes are popular, but lack preliminary effective data in the ADT patient. However, 5 rules can guide future research and clinical suggestions to relieve hot flashes using conventional and alternative medicines.

First, whatever is effective in the breast cancer or post-menopausal literature is generally effective for male ADT patients. The progesterone agents and all others mentioned above were first tested and successful in large trials with women before being used in men.⁵

Second, whatever is not effective or safe in the breast cancer and postmenopausal literature is generally not effective and safe for male ADT patients. This is why I disagree with the use of Dong Quai in an ADT study because a well-done randomized trial in women in the 1990s and a recent well-designed trial found no affect on hot flashes beyond a placebo effect, whether Dong Quai was used alone or as part of a complex multi-ingredient intervention.^9–11 Additionally, there have been potential issues of toxicity with this herbal product in general and with cancer patients,^12,13 which is why it was admirable that the authors followed the patients closely for any coagulation changes.¹ The bigger issue is why even test the efficacy of this compound in men on ADT?

Third, the placebo effect needs to be respected in medicine. Few conditions, other than hot flashes, garner more of a placebo effect in clinical trials so just trying to beat the placebo is a daunting task unless most patients have frequent and severe or very severe hot flashes,¹⁴ which was another limitation of this study. And, recent clinical research suggests an enhanced potential for a placebo effect with more frequent and severe hot flashes,¹⁵ which at least would suggest exactly what the authors concluded that Dong Quai has no relevant activity against hot flashes beyond an adequately constructed placebo.

Fourth, the best method of deciding who does and potentially does not qualify for hot flash medical interventions would be to first encourage patients to use a diary similar to what has been used for women.^16,17 Thus, only men with moderate to very severe hot flashes which cannot be improved by lifestyle changes (e.g., lighter clothing, temperature changes, tolerance with time, exercise) or self-perceived trial and error modifications should be candidates for medicinal intervention after reviewing the risks and benefits with the patient.^2,17 Thankfully, the true need for serious pharmacologic intervention is small as exemplified in this study and in my experience in men with ADT.

Fifth, we should always try to remember that heart health is tantamount to prostate health. We should never disregard the overall quality and quantity of life impact of any potential medicine to treat the side effect of another medicine, and that also includes cost issues. “First do no harm” and “If you are wrong it still should be right for the patient” are good mantras to follow. For example, again I generally do not recommend anything beyond diaries, lifestyle changes and the addition of several tablespoons of cheap dietary flaxseed daily for men (a well-tested, healthy and safe placebo-like product) or another heart healthy dietary agent for mild to moderate hot flashes because these interventions can at least promote heart healthy changes, mood, and have potential anti-proliferative effects in prostate cancer patients from clinical trials.^18,19 Moderate to very severe hot flashes that truly affect daily routine and/or sleep can be treated with progesterone, cyproterone, venlafaxine or another agent that the clinician knows has a history of almost immediate efficacy.^2,20,21 However, the risk of any cardiovascular abnormalities needs to be monitored by the specialist and/or primary care physician.

At the end of the day, I would ask you to consider what is wrong with a safe and effective placebo effect in men with ADT, especially in the area of hot flashes where it is not unusual to witness a 50% response to such an apparently inert intervention.¹⁴ It is not as if a placebo effect implies no effect because the clinical impact or subjective benefit is real, but clinicians are just not able to explain specifically why the benefit is occurring in a particular patient. Who cares if we do not know how it is happening, as long as it is occurring in a safe, cheap, effective and heart healthy manner in your patients on ADT.