Depression and Anxiety Drug May Ease Neuropathy from Chemo
Research published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the depression and anxiety drug duloxetine effectively treated painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy occurs in roughly 20% to 40% of patients treated with chemotherapy agents such as taxanes, platinums, and vinca alkaloids. The condition can persist for years following treatment and can interfere with quality of life.
Results from the phase III, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial shows that over 5 weeks of treatment, patients receiving duloxetine experienced significantly larger mean decreases in pain than patients on placebo.