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Comparative study of the effects of venlafaxine and duloxetine on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

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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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Negin Farshchian

  2. Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran

    Negin Farshchian, Avisa Alavi & Nasrin Moradian

  3. Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Sahel Heydarheydari

  4. Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Nasrin Moradian

Authors
  1. Negin Farshchian
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  2. Avisa Alavi
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  3. Sahel Heydarheydari
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  4. Nasrin Moradian
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Negin Farshchian.

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Conflict of interest

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

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.

Informed consent

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

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