Retrospective chart review of duloxetine and pregabalin in the treatment of painful neuropathy

The primary aims of our study were to compare pregabalin and duloxetine in a neuromuscular clinic for diabetic neuropathic pain (DPN) and to study the effect of these medications in cryptogenic sensory polyneuropathy. We performed a retrospective chart review of 143 patients who were started on pregabalin or duloxetine during a 10-month period in a tertiary neuromuscular outpatient center for neuropathic pain. Duloxetine and pregabalin were started in 103 and 91 patients, respectively. Ninety-two patients tried only one of the two medications while both medications were used at different time periods in 51 patients. Follow-up was available for 87 patients on pregabalin and 89 patients on duloxetine. More patients with neuropathic pain reported an improvement with pregabalin (33%) than duloxetine (21%). Duloxetine (38%) had a higher frequency of side effects compared to pregabalin (30%). However, these differences between pregabalin and duloxetine were not statistically significant. Despite the study's limitations of retrospective design, these findings suggest that both pregabalin and duloxetine are probably effective for neuropathic pain, secondary to diabetes or cryptogenic sensory peripheral neuropathy in a tertiary care academic neuromuscular center. Prospective randomized controlled comparative effectiveness studies are required for both drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain.