title: Can topical duloxetine be used for neuropathic pain?
abstract: Duloxetine is a serotonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor with both anti-depressant and pain-relieving properties. Its pain-relieving properties are due to its action on the descending inhibitory pain pathways. However, the fast onset of analgesia may be mediated by mechanisms other than the descending inhibitory pain pathways. This study posits the hypothesis that duloxetine may have pain-relieving property by peripheral analgesic effects. Ways of testing this hypothesis and its potential topical use are discussed.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Chien
authors: YC
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Student Counseling Center, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: pierrens@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw.
authors: Nian-Sheng
authors: NS
authors: Tzeng
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes