Author: Aldiyarbek Nurlan, Bolysbek Dana
Editor: Yeskendirbek Ualikhan
More than 20 million people in the United States suffer from neuropathic pain. At least 25% of these cases are classified as unexplained and are considered cryptogenic sensory polyneuropathy (CSPN).
The study compared four drugs with different mechanisms of action in a large group of CSPN patients to determine which drugs are most effective. The study involved 402 patients diagnosed with CSPN aged 30 years and older.
Participants were prescribed one of four drugs commonly used to treat CSPN: 1) nortriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant); 2) duloxetine; 3) pregabalin (an anticonvulsant drug); 4) mexiletine (antiarrhythmic drug). Patients received the prescribed treatment for 12 weeks and were assessed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
Nortriptyline had the highest percentage of effectiveness (25%). Duloxetine had the second highest efficacy rate (23%). Pregabalin had the lowest efficacy (15%).
“In a four-drug study, nortriptyline and duloxetine performed better. Therefore, we recommend that you consider either nortriptyline or duloxetine before using other drugs that we have tested, ”the researchers concluded.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201015173129.htm
