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A double‐blind, randomized trial of duloxetine versus placebo in the management of chronic low back pain
Author(s) -
Skljarevski V.,
Ossanna M.,
LiuSeifert H.,
Zhang Q.,
Chappell A.,
Iyengar S.,
Detke M.,
Backonja M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02648.x
Subject(s) - duloxetine , placebo , medicine , duloxetine hydrochloride , tolerability , brief pain inventory , anesthesia , radicular pain , clinical endpoint , analgesic , adverse effect , chronic pain , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , lumbar
Background: Duloxetine has demonstrated analgesic effect in chronic pain states. This study assesses the efficacy of duloxetine in chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: Adult patients with non‐radicular CLBP entered this 13‐week, double‐blind, randomized study comparing duloxetine 20, 60 or 120 mg once daily with placebo. The primary measure was comparison of duloxetine 60 mg with placebo on weekly mean 24‐h average pain. Secondary measures included Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ‐24), Patient’s Global Impressions of Improvement (PGI‐I), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), safety and tolerability. Results: Four hundred four patients were enrolled, 267 completed. No significant differences existed between any dose of duloxetine and placebo on reduction in weekly mean 24‐h average pain at end‐point. Duloxetine 60 mg was superior to placebo from weeks 3–11 in relieving pain, but not at weeks 12–13. Duloxetine 60 mg demonstrated significant improvement on PGI‐I, RMDQ‐24, BPI‐average pain and BPI‐average interference. Significantly more patients taking duloxetine 120 mg (24.1%) discontinued because of adverse events, versus placebo (8.5%). Conclusions: Duloxetine was superior to placebo on the primary objective from weeks 3–11, but superiority was not maintained at end‐point. Duloxetine was superior to placebo on many secondary measures, and was well‐tolerated.