Abstract
Objective
One of the complications of chemotherapy is peripheral neuropathy. Various studies have shown that potent norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as gabapentin, venlafaxine and duloxetine have therapeutic effects on neuropathy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of venlafaxine vs. duloxetine on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Methods
In this clinical trial, cancer patients who were suffering from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy comprised the study population. They were randomly assigned to three pharmacotherapy groups including venlafaxine, duloxetine and placebo. Cranial, sensory, motor neuropathies as well as neuropathic pain were evaluated on day 1, week 2, and week 4 after enrollment.
Results
Grade of cranial, motor, sensory and neuropathic pain decreased significantly in venlafaxine and duloxetine groups. This reduction was more considerable in duloxetine group compared to venlafaxine group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Duloxetine seems to be more effective than venlafaxine in decreasing the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Duloxetine was more effective than venlafaxine in decreasing motor neuropathy and neuropathic pain grade.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Research Council of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital for the financial support and cooperation. This work (approved research plan No: 95128) was performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Med. D. of Avisa Alavi, in Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Funding
This study was funded by Research Council of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (Grant Number 95128).
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All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Research Council of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Farshchian, N., Alavi, A., Heydarheydari, S. et al. Comparative study of the effects of venlafaxine and duloxetine on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 82, 787–793 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-018-3664-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-018-3664-y