Antidepressant duloxetine effectively treat peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy showed a phase III clinical study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
According to Ellen Smith of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, after 5 weeks of treatment, patients receiving duloxetine experienced a significant reduction in morbidity compared with placebo.
Peripheral neuropathy occurs in 20-40% of patients treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy. Such fees are (paclitaxel, docetaxel, etc.)., Vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine) and platinum compounds (cisplatin, oxaliplatin, etc.).. The condition can persist for years after treatment and greatly reduced quality of life.
Previous studies have shown that inhiborite reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine (class of antidepressants) have the potential to influence the state. Duloxetine also is known to reduce morbidity and diabetic neuropathy.
In order to clarify the properties of duloxetine, the researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 220 patients with stage I or greater sensory neuropathy induced by anti-cancer therapy. All participants were over the age of 25 and assessed their painful 10-ball standard scale, three months after the completion of a chemotherapy course. Half the patients received duloxetine and half - placebo, allocation is done randomly. The soreness was re-assessed after the study.
The end result of the study shows that 5-week treatment with duloxetine significantly reduces morbidity in peripheral neuropathy. This, in turn, enhances the quality of life and employability of patients. The benefits of duloxetine seem greatest for people who have completed chemotherapy with platinum compounds.
The most common side effects of duloxetine documented during the study were fatigue, insomnia and nausea.
Although good design of the study does not include follow-up of patients for an extended period, so it is impossible to tell how lasting are the effects of duloxetine in this indication.