Evaluation of SAMe for Hot Flashes

Inclusion Criteria:

Women with a history of breast cancer (currently without malignant disease) or women who have no history of breast cancer but who wish to avoid estrogen due to a perceived increased risk of breast cancer
Bothersome hot flashes (defined by their occurrence >= 14 times per week and of sufficient severity to make the patient desire therapeutic intervention)
Presence of hot flashes for >= 1 month prior to registration
Life expectancy >= 6 months
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) 0 or 1
Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance
Negative pregnancy test done =< 7 days prior to registration for women of childbearing potential only

Exclusion Criteria:

Any of the following current (=< last 4 weeks) or planned therapies (tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors are allowed, but the patient must have been on a constant dose for >= 4 weeks and must not be expected to stop the medication during the study period): antineoplastic chemotherapy, androgens, estrogens, progestational agents, other herbal supplements, including soy, vitamin E, flaxseed, and megadose vitamins (herbal teas, multivitamins, and vitamin D are allowed), warfarin (1 mg of daily warfarin is allowed for central line patency), medications interacting with SAMe (antidepressants, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, meperidine, dextromethorphan, pentazocine, tramadol, gabapentin, and levodopa)
Pregnant women
Nursing women
Women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception
Known allergy to SAMe
Current use or use within the past 6 months of SAMe
Clinically significant acute or chronic progressive or unstable neurologic, psychiatric, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or systemic disease precluding participation in the study
History of bipolar disorder or Parkinsonism