Summary
The effect of imipramine on symptomatic peripheral diabetic neuropathy in 9 patients was examined in a double-blind cross-over study against placebo. The dose of imipramine was adjusted to yield optimal plasma levels of imipramine plus desipramine of 300–750 nM.
Imipramine had a clear benificial effect on the symptoms of the neuropathy, whereas no changes in a range of neurophysiological measurements was detected.
Despite some adverse effects, especially of an anticholinergic nature, the patients generally preferred imipramine to placebo.
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Sindrup, S.H., Ejlertsen, B., Frøland, A. et al. Imipramine treatment in diabetic neuropathy: relief of subjective symptoms without changes in peripheral and autonomic nerve function. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 37, 151–153 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00558223
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00558223