A comparative study on efficacy and safety of tablet duloxetine 60 mg and tablet gabapentin 300 mg among patients with diabetic polyneuropathy – A randomized double-blind study

ABSTRACT

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is defined as the presence of symptoms and signs of peripheral nerve damage among patients with diabetes, after ruling out other potential causes. Diabetic neuropathies are one among the most common long-term complications of diabetes. About 60% of diabetic patients are affected by neuropathy. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to study the efficacy and safety of tablet duloxetine 60 mg and tablet gabapentin 300 mg among patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Materials and Methods: This study was randomized, comparative, double-blind parallel group study which was conducted for a period of 6 months. Sixty patients with diabetic polyneuropathic pain were randomly allocated into two groups. One group received duloxetine 60 mg and other group received gabapentin 300 mg. Efficacy was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS), short form of McGill pain questionnaire, and patients global impression of change score. Safety was assessed using adverse drug reaction profile. Results: In the duloxetine group, the mean VAS score at the baseline was 54.97 ± 6.75, and at 3 months, it was 20.07 ± 5.32 which was statistically significant. In the gabapentin group, the mean score at baseline was 53.57 ± 7.85, and at 3 months, it was 26.57 ± 4.39 which was also statistically significant. The difference between the baseline and 3rd month mean McGill score in both groups was statistically significant. Conclusions: We found that both duloxetine 60 mg once daily and gabapentin 300 mg once daily are effective in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathic pain. However, duloxetine 60 mg once daily is more efficacious than gabapentin 300 mg once daily in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. Both the drugs are well tolerated but gabapentin is better tolerated than duloxetine.