Escitalopram as a Treatment for Pain in Polyneuropathy

Odense University Hospital

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 4

Conditions

Polyneuropathies

Pain

Treatments

Drug: escitalopram

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT00162968

escit01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Many people with polyneuropathy suffer from pain which is difficult to treat. Escitalopram is a relatively new drug used in the treatment of depression. Escitalopram's action mechanism on the brain suggests that escitalopram also may have an effect on neuropathic pain. This study will test the efficacy of escitalopram in patients with painful polyneuropathy.

Full description

Tricyclic antidepressants appear to be the most efficacious treatment of painful polyneuropathy. However, these drugs are contraindicated in some patients and a substantial number of patients decline treatment due to side-effects. Therefore, effective drugs that are better tolerated are needed. Clinical and basic research has demonstrated that drugs with serotonergic action can alleviate neuropathic pain. Escitalopram increases serotonin concentration in the central nervous system, suggesting that it might be a potential alternative to current treatments of neuropathic pain. The aim of this study is to test if escitalopram would relieve painful polyneuropathy.

Comparisons: Treatment with 20 mg escitalopram daily will be compared in a cross-over design with placebo. Each treatment period will last 6 weeks. During the last week of each treatment period, the dose will be tapered.

Sex

All

Ages

20 to 80 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

median total pain score at baseline week >=4 on a 10 point numerical rating scale
characteristic symptoms of polyneuropathy within at least 6 months
diagnosis confirmed by physical examination, neurophysiologic exam. and/or quantitative sensory testing
pain at least 4 of 7 days
fertile women are using anticonceptive

Exclusion criteria

other cause to pain than polyneuropathy
former allergic reactions on escitalopram
known adverse events on escitalopram
pregnancy or nursing
critical disease (terminal cancer, cardial incompensation or critical renal or lung disease)
treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors between the trial or 2 weeks before or after treatment with other antidepressants, antiepileptic agents or opioids