Sertraline in diabetic neuropathy: preliminary results.
Previous research has shown that antidepressants have been useful in the treatment of pain, particularly diabetic neuropathy. This study was an initial open investigation into the use of sertraline in diabetic neuropathy. Eight patients with diabetic neuropathy but not depression were treated with increasing doses of sertraline to a maximum of 150 mg/day for 8 weeks. Sertraline treatment led to significant reductions in mean visual analog scale (VAS) ratings, e.g., pain from 71.2 to 23.1 (t = 3.74, p < .01) and paresthesias from 53.8 to 15.0 (t = 4.15, p < .01). Baseline platelet serotonin (5HT) content also correlated significantly with improvement in pain (r = 0.70,p =. 05). Plasma sertraline (SRT) correlated with improvement in paresthesias (r = 0.70).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary result indicates the potential application of sertraline to treatment of diabetic neuropathy. A replication is now underway.
Goodnick
P J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA.
Jimenez
I
I
Kumar
A
A
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010555:Personality Inventory; D020280:Sertraline; D012803:Sick Role; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D020280:Sertraline