title: Palmitoylethanolamide in the treatment of chronic pain caused by different etiopathogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous fatty acid amide belonging to the N-acylethanolamines family, in reducing pain severity in patients with pain associated to different pathological conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study conducted on 610 patients who were unable to effectively control chronic pain with standard therapies. PEA (600 mg) was administered twice daily for 3 weeks followed by single daily dosing for 4 weeks, in addition to standard analgesic therapies or as single therapy. The primary outcome measure was the mean score pain severity evaluated by the numeric rating scale. Safety was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEA treatment significantly decreased the mean score pain intensity evaluated in all patients who completed the study. The PEA effect was independent of the pain associated pathological condition. PEA-induced decrease of pain intensity was present also in patients without concomitant analgesic therapy. Importantly, PEA showed no adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, PEA was effective and safe in the management of chronic pain in different pathological conditions.
authors: Department of Emergency and Admission, Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine and Anaesthetic Science. Foundation PTV Polyclinic Tor Vergata. University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. antonio.gatti@ptvonline.it
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Gatti
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Lazzari
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Gianfelice
authors: Annarita
authors: A
authors: Di Paolo
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Sabato
authors: Alessandro Fabrizio
authors: AF
authors: Sabato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C005958:palmidrol