title: Retrospective chart review of duloxetine and pregabalin in the treatment of painful neuropathy.
abstract: The primary aims of our study were to compare pregabalin and duloxetine in a neuromuscular clinic for diabetic neuropathic pain (DPN) and to study the effect of these medications in cryptogenic sensory polyneuropathy. We performed a retrospective chart review of 143 patients who were started on pregabalin or duloxetine during a 10-month period in a tertiary neuromuscular outpatient center for neuropathic pain. Duloxetine and pregabalin were started in 103 and 91 patients, respectively. Ninety-two patients tried only one of the two medications while both medications were used at different time periods in 51 patients. Follow-up was available for 87 patients on pregabalin and 89 patients on duloxetine. More patients with neuropathic pain reported an improvement with pregabalin (33%) than duloxetine (21%). Duloxetine (38%) had a higher frequency of side effects compared to pregabalin (30%). However, these differences between pregabalin and duloxetine were not statistically significant. Despite the study's limitations of retrospective design, these findings suggest that both pregabalin and duloxetine are probably effective for neuropathic pain, secondary to diabetes or cryptogenic sensory peripheral neuropathy in a tertiary care academic neuromuscular center. Prospective randomized controlled comparative effectiveness studies are required for both drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA. mmittal2@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Mamatha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasnoor
authors.forename: Reddiah B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mummaneni
authors.forename: Saud
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McVey
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saperstein
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herbelin
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridings
authors.forename: Yunxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mazen M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dimachkie
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barohn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride