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Review
. 2015 Oct;22(2):123-128.

Duloxetine, an antidepressant with analgesic properties - a preliminary analysis

Adela Hilda Onuţu  1
Affiliations
Review

Duloxetine, an antidepressant with analgesic properties - a preliminary analysis

Adela Hilda Onuţu. Rom J Anaesth Intensive Care. 2015 Oct.

Abstract
in English, Romanian

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are second-line antidepressants largely used because of their good tolerance and their reduced side effects. Two of these drugs, duloxetine and venlafaxine, are used also in chronic pain management. In this review we present recent data regarding duloxetine's effects on the central nervous system, linked to acute pain management, and their efficiency in reducing postoperative chronic pain. The drug's efficacy results from its modulating effect on the descending inhibitory pain pathways and the inhibition of the nociceptive input. There are already several studies in favor of the analgesic properties of duloxetine. However, further and larger randomized studies are necessary in order to clarify duloxetine efficiency in acute postoperative settings, and thereafter on persistent chronic postoperative pain.

Inhibitorii recaptării de serotonină şi noradrenalină sunt antidepresanţi larg utilizaţi în prezent datorită unei bune toleranţe şi a efectelor secundare reduse. Două medicamente din această clasă, duloxetina şi venlafaxina, sunt de asemenea utilizate în terapia durerii cronice.Această analiză prezintă datele recente privind efectele duloxetinei asupra sistemului nervos central, legate de tratamentul durerii acute şi eficienţa sa în reducerea durerii cronice postoperatorii. Eficacitatea terapeutică a duloxetinei rezultă din efectul său modulator asupra căilor descendente inhibitorii ale durerii şi de asemenea prin inhibiţia accentuată a aferenţelor nociceptive. Efectul analgezic al duloxetinei a fost confirmat de o serie de studii dar sunt necesare studii viitoare randomizate care să clarifice eficienţa duloxetinei în tratamentul durerii acute postoperatorii şi mai departe asupra durerii cronice postoperatorii.

Keywords: acute postoperative pain; chronic post-surgical pain; duloxetine; serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest Nothing to declare

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