Cymbalta for sciatica – pro
Duloxetine may is approved for diabetic neropathy and once such an approval is obtained, farther research into other types of neuropathy tends to slow. I ahve nto found literature supporting this drug for sciatica. I did find a report of a new study, 60 mg of Cymbalta® (duloxetine HCl) taken once daily significantly reduced chronic low back pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating, compared with placebo. I do not find this single non-peer reviewed report sufficient support for sciatica treatment.
Skljarevski, V. et al. Efficacy of Duloxetine in Chronic Low Back Pain. Poster presented at the European Federation of Neurological Societies Annual Congress. 25 August 2008.
Goldstein DJ, Mallinckrodt C, Lu Y, Demitrack MA (March 2002). “Duloxetine in the treatment a double-blind clinical trial”. J Clin Psychiatry 63 (3): 225–31.
Cymbalta, Prescibing Information
http://www.supportiveoncology.net/journal/articles/0402082.pdf
Attal N, Cruccu G, Haanpaa M, Hansson P, Jensen TS, Nurmikko T, Sampaio C, Sindrup S, Wiffen P, EFNS Task Force. EFNS guidelines on pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain. Eur J Neurol 2006 Nov;13(11):1153-69. [147 references]
Attal N, Cruccu G, Haanpaa M, Hansson P, Jensen TS, Nurmikko T, Sampaio C, Sindrup S, Wiffen P, EFNS Task Force. EFNS guidelines on pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain. Eur J Neurol 2006 Nov;13(11):1153-69. [147 references]