Diabetic Nerve pain and numbness are also known as Neuropathy. It is debilitating but a common symptom of diabetes.
A new research suggests a certain drugs medication that effectively treats diabetic nerve pain. Recently, this study data is being published in the journal of American Academy of Neurology(AAN).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says more than 9 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, reported by Science Daily. Estimated, 50 percent people have some form of diabetic nerve pain caused by high level of blood sugar.
After a detailed analysis of 106 cases on pain relief, the researcher made a conclusion on it. They found a moderate evidence that the antidepressants duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) reduce diabetic nerve pain.
They also found a weak evidence, that botulinum toxin, the anti-seizure drugs pregabalin and oxcarbazepine. These drugs classified as tricyclic antidepressants and atypical opioid were probably effective in reducing diabetic nerve pain, stated by First Word.
The diabetic nerve pain and all the others things was led by Julie Waldfogel of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. According to them, gabapentin works in a similar manner to pregabalin and gabapentin was not more effective than a placebo.
Long-term use of those standard opioids such as oxyContin, Vicodin or Percocet is not recommended for diabetic nerve pain. Due to lack of evidence of long-term benefit, it might be the risk of abuse, misuse or overdose, Waldfogel said.
Experts claimed that there was not enough evidence to determine if these treatments had an impact quality of life. Future studies are also needed to assess these diabetic nerve pain.
Dr. Caroline Messer, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital uttered that this much-needed step in the right direction in an otherwise murky field of medicine. Though all studies about diabetic nerve pain were short in terms, less than six months.
These all short time studies on effective drugs had more than 9 percent of participants drop out due to adverse effects. Longer-term outcomes should be evaluated in future studies so that side effects and continued effectiveness of the drugs can be assessed. Experts hope that the perfect drugs for these diabetic nerve pain will unveil soon.
