Veralipride administered in combination with raloxifene decreases hot flushes and improves bone density in early postmenopausal women

We evaluate the administration of raloxifene and veralipride in postmenopausal women with high osteoporosis risk and hot flushes in whom hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was contraindicated. A group of early post-menopausal women (n = 29) (mean age 51.8 +/- 4.1), complaining of severe vasomotor symptoms and with a bone mineral density (BMD) T-score between -1.5 and -2.5 were evaluated. They were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: raloxifene (60 mg/day) continuously in association with veralipride (100 mg/day) oil alternate days (n = 17); or oil alternate months (n = 12). BD, scrum prolactin concentration and endometrial thickness were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of therapy. Kupperman Index and hot flushes were assessed before and after 3 and 6 months of therapy. BMD was significantly higher at the end of therapy with all increase of 1.1%. Kupperman Index was significantly reduced after 3 months and a further decrease at 6 months was observed with both protocols. Both treatments led to a si,significant reduction of hot flushes after 3 and 6 months. No significant changes of prolactin levels were observed in either protocol. We found that the combined raloxifine-veralipride treatment, both every other day and every other month, led to a significant improvement in bone density and was effective in hot flushes and other menopause-associated symptoms. These protocols could represent a new way to administer raloxifene ill early postmenopausal women at high osteoporosis risk with HRT contraindication.