Escitalopram as a Treatment for Pain in Polyneuropathy

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2007-04-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Many people with polyneuropathy suffer from pain which is difficult to treat. Escitalopram is a relatively new drug used in the treatment of depression. Escitalopram's action mechanism on the brain suggests that escitalopram also may have an effect on neuropathic pain. This study will test the efficacy of escitalopram in patients with painful polyneuropathy.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Odense University Hospital
• Collaborators: Aarhus University Hospital; H. Lundbeck A/S
• Treatments: Citalopram; Dexetimide

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• median total pain score at baseline week >=4 on a 10 point numerical rating scale

• characteristic symptoms of polyneuropathy within at least 6 months

• diagnosis confirmed by physical examination, neurophysiologic exam. and/or quantitative sensory testing

• pain at least 4 of 7 days

• fertile women are using anticonceptive

Exclusion Criteria:

• other cause to pain than polyneuropathy

• former allergic reactions on escitalopram

• known adverse events on escitalopram

• pregnancy or nursing

• critical disease (terminal cancer, cardial incompensation or critical renal or lung disease)

• treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors between the trial or 2 weeks before or after treatment with other antidepressants, antiepileptic agents or opioids