Anti-depressant drug shown to help people with low back pain
Results from a new study have suggested that an anti-depressant drug duloxetine HCl (under the brand name Cymbalta) can help reduce chronic low back pain.
The study was carried out by drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and the results were presented at the recent annual congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) in Madrid.
During the trial, 236 patients with chronic back pain were either given duloxetine or a placebo. After a 13-week period, it was found that 31 per cent of duloxetine-treated patients experienced a 50 per cent reduction in pain, compared with 19 per cent of placebo-treated patients.
It was also found that treatment with duloxetine was associated with improved physical functioning.
However, the report did acknowledge that more patients from the duloxetine group discontinued because of adverse events. The most common side effects included nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, diarrhoea, excessive sweating, dizziness and constipation.
Vladimir Skljarevski, lead study author and a neurologist and medical fellow at Lilly Research Laboratories, commented: "Chronic low back pain can have a significant impact on a person's ability to do the things they enjoy.
"This research may offer hope to those dealing with this debilitating condition."
An Arthritis Research Campaign spokeswoman said that most cases of chronic low back pain responded well to exercise and physiotherapy, but added that there was a need for effective painkillers without harmful side effects.
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