Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 May 27:13:62.
doi: 10.1186/2251-6581-13-62. eCollection 2014.

A study of the use of carbamazepine, pregabalin and alpha lipoic acid in patients of diabetic neuropathy

Niral Patel  1 , Vishal Mishra  2 , Prakruti Patel  3 , Ram K Dikshit  4
Affiliations

A study of the use of carbamazepine, pregabalin and alpha lipoic acid in patients of diabetic neuropathy

Niral Patel et al. J Diabetes Metab Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common, symptomatic, long-term complication of diabetes mellitus. Many of the agents used to treat DN have not been compared with each other. This study was, therefore, undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of carbamazepine, pregabalin and alpha-lipoic acid in diabetic neuropathy patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study. The patients were categorized into three groups, Group I included those patients who were prescribed carbamazepine while group II included those on pregabalin and group III patients received alpha-lipoic acid. Each patient was followed up at every month for total duration of 6 months. Demographic details, presenting symptoms, history of diabetes, laboratory values pertaining to diabetes (Fasting blood sugar, Post prandial blood sugar and HbA1c) were recorded. Intensity of pain, using a visual analogue scale (VAS), diabetic neuropathy symptom (DNS) score and diabetic neuropathy examination (DNE) score were assessed at baseline and then at each monthly follow-up. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was also measured at baseline and then at the end of 3 and 6 months.

Results: A total of 101 patients were enrolled out of them 96 completed the study. Regarding VAS, the number of patients having pain was reduced substantially however, the speed and the quantum of this reduction were best in group II (pregabalin). Regarding DNS, also group II showed the best response in terms of number of patients as well as the speed of improvement. The results also imply that the relief from diabetic neuropathy (as per DNE score) is superior with pregabalin administration. However, no improvement in NCV was evident in any group.

Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that treatment with pregabalin gives faster and better improvement in diabetic neuropathy.

Keywords: Alpha lipoic acid; Carbamazepine; Diabetic neuropathy; Pregabalin.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of symptom free patients as per diabetic neuropathy symptom (DNS) score.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of patients with less than free score on diabetic neuropathy examination (‘no neuropathy’).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation betweeen fasting blood sugar and degree of pain in patients suffering from neurophy treated with carbamazepine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fedele D, Comi G, Coscelli C, Cucinotta D, Feldman EL, Ghirlanda G, Greene DA, Negrin P, Santeusanio F. A multicenter study on the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Italy. Italian Diabetic Neuropathy Committee. Diabetes Care. 1997;20(5):836–843. doi: 10.2337/diacare.20.5.836. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pirart J. Diabetes mellitus and its degenerative complications: a prospective study of 4,400 patients observed between 1947 and 1973 (3rd and last part) Diabetes Metab. 1977;3:245–256. - PubMed
    1. Boulton AJ, Vinik AI, Arezzo JC, Bril V, Feldman EL, Freeman R, Malik RA, Maser RE, Sosenko JM, Ziegler D. American Diabetes Association. Diabetic neuropathies: a statement by the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(9):56–62. - PubMed
    1. Vileikyte L, Leventhal H, Gonzalez JS, Peyrot M, Rubin RR, Ulbrecht JS, Garrow A, Waterman C, Cavanagh PR, Boulton AJ. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and depressive symptoms: the association revisited. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:2378–2383. doi: 10.2337/diacare.28.10.2378. - DOI - PubMed
    1. American diabetes association. Living with diabetes. High blood pressure (hypertension) Available from: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/high-blood-pr....