Mexiletine for treatment of chronic painful diabetic neuropathy.
Sixteen of nineteen patients completed a randomised double-blind crossover trial to assess the effect of oral mexiletine (10 mg/kg bodyweight daily) on the symptoms and signs of chronic painful diabetic neuropathy. The median age of the sixteen patients was 50 years (range 30-64). Assessment with a five-item clinical symptom scale showed significant improvement during the mexiletine phase compared with the placebo phase. Pain was reduced during mexiletine but not during placebo, as assessed by a visual analogue rating scale. Mexiletine treatment had no effect on tendon reflexes, vibration threshold levels, beat-to-beat variation in heart rate during deep breathing, and postural blood pressure response. Mild side-effects were seen in three of the sixteen patients during mexiletine treatment.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010919:Placebos; D011897:Random Allocation
D010919:Placebos; D008801:Mexiletine