title: Efficacy of desipramine in painful diabetic neuropathy: a placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Although amitriptyline relieves pain in many patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, side effects often preclude effective treatment. Desipramine has the least anticholinergic and sedative effects of the first generation tricyclic antidepressants. We compared a 6 week course of desipramine (mean dose, 201 mg/day) to active placebo in 20 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy in a double-blind crossover trial. Pain relief with desipramine was statistically significant in weeks 5 and 6. Eleven patients reported at least moderate relief with desipramine, compared to 2 with placebo. Pain relief tended to be greater in depressed patients, but relief was also observed in patients who did not show an antidepressant effect. We conclude that desipramine relieves pain in many patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, offering an alternative for patients unable to tolerate amitriptyline. Blockade of norepinephrine reuptake, an action shared by desipramine, amitriptyline, and other antidepressants proven effective in neuropathic pain, may mediate this analgesic effect.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology and Anesthesiology Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, and the Clinical Center Nursing Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MDU.S.A. Department of Medicine, VA Hospital, Danville, ILU.S.A.
authors.forename: Mitchell B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: Ranganna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishore-Kumar
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: Blanche
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gracely
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smoller
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001590:Benztropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D003891:Desipramine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001590:Benztropine; D003891:Desipramine