Duloxetine promising: keeps diabetic neuropathy pain at...

Duloxetine promising: keeps diabetic neuropathy pain at bay for over 6 months

Diabetic neuropathy is a painful of long-term diabetes. While not all people who have diabeted develop the neuropathy (nerve pain), many do and its treatment is a puzzle to doctors. Nerve pain is difficult to treat and, as yet, there havenÌt been too many options.

One drug, duloxetine, is already in use for treatment of depression and anxiety, but researchers have found that it is also very helpful for some patients with diabetic neuropathy. The study involved 216 patients with diabetic neuropathy who took the medication every day for 8 weeks. Over half (53%) saw their pain decrease by at least 30% on a pain scale that was used to measure how much pain they were in.

The patients who reported pain relief then continued to take duloxetine for up to 26 weeks (6 months). When the researchers assessed the pain relief after the 6 months, they found that almost 75% of the patients continued to have pain relief.

There were some side effects, which included nausea, fatigue and sleepiness, excessive sweating, dry mouth, decreased appetite, and headache.

August 22nd, 2008
By Marijke Durning, RN