Treatment of Neuropathic Pain with Venlafaxine: A Systematic Review.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of venlafaxine for neuropathic pain and review literature to determine if the medication provides adequate neuropathic pain relief.


METHODS
Literature was reviewed on MEDLINE using various key words. These key words include: "venlafaxine and pain," "venlafaxine ER and pain," "venlafaxine XR and pain," "venlafaxine and neuropathic pain," "venlafaxine and neuropathy," "SSRI and neuropathic pain," "SSRI and neuropathy," "SNRI and neuropathic pain," "SNRI and neuropathy," "serotonin reuptake inhibitor and neuropathic pain," "serotonin reuptake inhibitor and neuropathy," "serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and neuropathic pain" and "serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and neuropathy." Using this guideline, 13 articles were reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 13 studies reviewed, which are organized by date and diagnosis. It is evident that in the majority of studies, when compared with a placebo, there was a clinical significant reduction in neuropathic pain relief when using venlafaxine. Additionally, one study showed even more significant pain relief when using higher doses of venlafaxine (at least 150 mg). However, when compared with alternative neuropathic medications, venlafaxine for the most part did not perform any better in terms of efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, venlafaxine is a safe and well-tolerated analgesic drug for the symptomatic treatment of neuropathic pain, and there is limited evidence that high-dose venlafaxine (150 mg/day) can be even more beneficial. While the present evidence is quite encouraging regarding venlafaxine's use for neuropathic pain, further research is needed to continue to expand on these findings, particularly when in consideration with other possible pharmacological agents.
Departments of Psychiatry.
Rohit
R
Aiyer
Department of Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, and Pharmacology, Rush Medical College, North Shore University Health System Pain Centers Evanston and Skokie Hospital, Skokie, Illinois, USA.
Robert L
RL
Barkin
Anesthesiology, Hofstra Northwell Health, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York, USA.
Anurag
A
Bhatia
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000700:Analgesics; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
Neuropathic Pain; Neuropathy; SNRI; Venlafaxine