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Pharmacotherapy of painful diabetic neuropathy

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Abstract

The scope of this review is to describe the epidemiology, physiology, symptomatology, and treatment of diabetic painful neuropathy, which is a common complication of diabetes with significant morbidity. This article focuses on treatment options. Various clinical trials of several classes of medications (eg, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical medications) and alternative treatments (eg, acupuncture, electrostimulation, magnets) are reviewed. Physicians have a large panel of medications that can be used effectively solely or in combination at their disposal. However, a number of these treatments have significant side effects, which are noted, that limit their use. As the understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy improves, new medications are under investigation, which are reviewed in this article. There is great hope that the future may hold treatments that would prevent nerve damage.

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  1. Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, 14642, Rochester, NY, USA

    Richard Barbano MD, PhD, Stephanie Hart-Gouleau MD, Janet Pennella-Vaughan MS & Robert H. Dworkin PhD

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  1. Richard Barbano MD, PhD
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  2. Stephanie Hart-Gouleau MD
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Barbano, R., Hart-Gouleau, S., Pennella-Vaughan, J. et al. Pharmacotherapy of painful diabetic neuropathy. Current Science Inc 7, 169–177 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-003-0070-9

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