title: Ziconotide Monotherapy: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials.
abstract: Chronic neuropathic pain is difficult to treat and is often refractory to most modalities of treatment. Ziconotide is a novel, potent, non-opioid, calcium channel blocking agent which has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in treating chronic neuropathic pain.
  
  
  
  EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus and Web of Science electronic databases were searched for English language studies. Reference sections of articles were examined for further papers and the manufacturer of ziconotide was contacted for further unpublished data. Three randomised controlled trials in ziconotide monotherapy were included and subjected to a random effects meta-analysis.
  
  
  
  All three studies used the similar main outcome measure (visual analogue scale of pain intensity; VASPI) and were therefore comparable. A Jadad score was performed for each paper. Frequent serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed which resulted in two of the studies revising the protocol. The metaanalysis revealed a pooled odds ratio (responders on ziconotide vs. placebo) of 2.77 (95% CI, 1.37 to 5.59).
  
  
  
  The results suggest that ziconotide is beneficial for pain reduction in chronic neuropathic pain. However, there remain some methodological issues that may call into question the validity of the results. It is evident that more work needs to be conducted to further validate the efficacy of ziconotide and to discover new areas of use.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, UK
authors: Morag E
authors: ME
authors: Brookes
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, UK
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Eldabe
authors: Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA, UK
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Batterham
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020960:omega-Conotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020960:omega-Conotoxins; C078452:ziconotide