My understanding is surgery is the only option. Would love to see some studies showing gyno reversal with drugs or hear others experiences using various drugs.
Here's a few to get you started. You'll find more by following the Pubmed links.
BMC Med. 2012 Aug 28;10:96.
Tamoxifen for the management of breast events induced by non-steroidal antiandrogens in patients with prostate cancer: a systematic review.
Kunath F1, Keck B, Antes G, Wullich B, Meerpohl JJ.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Tamoxifen has emerged as a potential management option for gynecomastia and breast pain due to non-steroidal antiandrogens, and it is considered an alternative to surgery or radiotherapy. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the benefits and harms of tamoxifen, in comparison to other treatment options, for either the prophylaxis or treatment of breast events induced by non-steroidal antiandrogens in prostate cancer patients.
METHODS:
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, reference lists, the abstracts of three major conferences and three trial registers to identify ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two authors independently screened the articles identified, assessed the trial quality and extracted data. The protocol was prospectively registered (CRD42011001320;
http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).
RESULTS:
Four studies were identified. Tamoxifen significantly reduced the risk of suffering from gynecomastia (risk ratio 9RR0 0.10, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.22) or breast pain (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.17) at six months compared to untreated controls. Tamoxifen also showed a significant benefit for the prevention of gynecomastia (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.58) and breast pain (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.64) when compared to anastrozole after a median of 12 months. One study showed a significant benefit of tamoxifen for the prevention of gynecomastia (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.65) and breast pain (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.65) when compared with radiotherapy at six months. Radiotherapy increased the risk of suffering from nipple erythema and skin irritation, but there were no significant differences for any other adverse events (all P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The currently available evidence suggests good efficacy of tamoxifen for the prevention and treatment of breast events induced by non-steroidal antiandrogens. The impact of tamoxifen therapy on long-term adverse events, disease progression and survival remains unclear. Further large, well-designed RCTs, including long-term follow-ups, are warranted. Also, the optimal dose needs to be clarified.
Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2012 Sep;10(3):174-9.
A randomized trial comparing tamoxifen therapy vs. tamoxifen prophylaxis in bicalutamide-induced gynecomastia.
Serretta V1,
Altieri V,
Morgia G,
Nicolosi F,
De Grande G,
Mazza R,
Melloni D,
Allegro R,
Ferraù F,
Gebbia V.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Tamoxifen (TAM) has been shown to be active against the bicalutamide-induced breast events (BEs) gynecomastia, and breast pain in patients with prostate cancer (PC). Optimal doses and schedules are not yet established. Debate still exists about whether prophylaxis with TAM is more effective than treatment of BEs when diagnosed. The results of a randomized study comparing TAM prophylaxis vs. TAM therapy are presented.
METHODS:
One hundred seventy-six patients with prostate cancer (PC) who were candidates for bicalutamide monotherapy were randomized to receive TAM 20 mg daily orally within 1 month from the onset of BEs (arm A) vs. TAM 10 mg daily starting simultaneously with bicalutamide (arm B). TAM was administered for up to 1 year. BEs were evaluated by a self-administered visual analogue scale. Neither ultrasonography nor calipers were used to measure the degree of gynecomastia.
RESULTS:
In arm A, BEs showed a prevalence, increasing with time up to 78.3%. After therapy with TAM they persisted in 27.7% of cases. Two patients (3%) interrupted TAM therapy because of dizziness, and 3 patients (4%) interrupted bicalutamide therapy because of painful gynecomastia. In arm B, the prevalence of BEs was 35% after 12 months of therapy. The difference in BEs between the 2 arms was statistically significant (P < .0001). The differences in prevalence of gynecomastia and breast pain between the 2 arms both favored TAM prophylaxis (P < .0001 and P < .001, respectively). Up to 35% of patients had BEs of low intensity, never requiring bicalutamide withdrawal. Two patients (3%) interrupted the treatment because of gastrointestinal intolerance. No difference emerged between the 2 arms in terms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, plasma testosterone levels, and tumor progression.
CONCLUSION:
Bicalutamide-induced BEs can be prevented to a significant degree by prophylaxis with TAM 10 mg/day or effectively treated with TAM therapy 20 mg/day. Persisting BEs are of higher intensity after therapy than after prophylaxis.
Rev Med Chil. 2007 Dec;135(12):1558-65.
[Influence of size and duration of gynecomastia on its response to treatment with tamoxifen].
[Article in Spanish]
Devoto C E1,
Madariaga A M,
Lioi C X,
Mardones N.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Gynecomastia is treated when it is painful, there are psychosocial repercussions or it does not revert in less than two years. It is treated with the antiestrogenic drug tamoxifen, but there are doubts about its effectiveness in high volume gynecomastias or in those lasting more than two years.
AIM:
To assess the effectiveness and safety of tamoxifen for gynecomastia and the influence of its volume and duration on the response to treatment.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Forty three patients with gynecomastia, aged 12 to 62 years, were studied. Twenty seven patients had a pubertal physiological gynecomastia, in eight it was caused by medications, in four it was secondary to hypogonadism, in three it was idiopathic and in one it was due to toxic exposure. Twenty patients had mastodynia and in 33, gynecomastia had a diameter over 4 cm. It lasted less than two years in 30 patients, more than two years in nine and four did not recall its duration. All were treated with tamoxifen 20 mg/day for 6 months. A follow up evaluation was performed at three and six months of treatment.
RESULTS:
Mastodynia disappeared in all patients at three months. At six months gynecomastia disappeared in 26 patients (62%), but relapsed in 27%. All gynecomastias caused by drugs with antiandrogen activity disappeared. Fifty two percent of gynecomastias over 4 cm and 90% of those of less than 4 cm in diameter disappeared (p<0.05). Fifty six percent of gynecomastias lasting more than two years and 70% of those of a shorter duration disappeared (p=NS). Two patients had diarrhea or flushes associated to the therapy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Tamoxifen is safe and effective for the treatment of gynecomastia. Larger lesions have a lower response to treatment.
