COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFICACY OF PREGABALIN AND AMITRIPTYLINE IN ALLEVIATING PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH PAINFUL DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
Efficacy of Pregabalin And Amitriptyline in Alleviating Pain
Keywords:
Alleviation of pain, Amitriptyline, Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Pregabalin.Abstract
Objective: To compare the efficacy of pregabalin and amitriptyline in alleviating pain associated with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN).
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) Shifa Karachi, from May 2014 to Nov 2014.
Material and Methods: Six hundred and sixty patients (330 in each group) with PDPN fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomized into groups A & B through consecutive non-probability sampling. Baseline pain scores on visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0-10 were recorded. Group-A was given pregabalin & group-B was given amitriptyline. Response was assessed after 6 weeks using VAS. A reduction of >50% on VAS was labeled efficacious.
Results: Out of 660 patients, 46.36% (n=153) in group-A and 57.88% (n=191) in group-B had effective relief of pain whereas 53.64% (n=177) in group-A and 42.12% (n=139) in group-B had persistent pain. A p-value was calculated as 0.003.
Conclusion: Amitriptyline was significantly more effective for alleviation of pain associated with PDPN when compared with pregabalin.
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