Abstract

THE IMPACT OF GABAPENTIN AND DULOXETINE ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROPATHIC PAIN: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

*Umaid Hussain Wani, Faiqa Khursheed, Aamirah Fazili, Dr. Ashutosh Upadhyay and Bhawna Garg

Abstract

Globally, neuropathic pain affects over a million people. The lack of suitable medicines has resulted in a significant decline in the quality of life for those with neuropathic pain. The only thing that can be done for patients right now is treat their symptoms; however, these treatments come with a lot of negative side effects that get worse with time and cause tolerance. Neuropathic pain, a persistent suffering brought on by nerve damage, significantly reduces quality of life (QoL). Gabapentin and duloxetine are two common pharmaceutical treatments for neuropathic pain; nevertheless, their effects on quality of life have not been sufficiently compared. Both the anticonvulsant gabapentin and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) duloxetine show promise in lessening the severity of neuropathic pain and enhancing functional outcomes. According to studies, gabapentin improves both physical and mental well-being and lowers pain scores, both of which have a favourable impact on overall quality of life. In neuropathic pain sufferers, duloxetine has also been demonstrated to be beneficial in terms of pain alleviation and functional status, which has improved QoL metrics. Studies comparing the effectiveness of duloxetine and gabapentin in reducing pain indicate that the latter may be more effective in improving emotional aspects of quality of life. The tolerability profiles of both drugs are favourable, and any side effects are mostly associated with the different pharmacological mechanisms involved. This article's goal is to provide an overview of the most recent studies on the impact of gabapentin and duloxetine on neuropathic pain patients' quality of life. We examine observational studies, clinical guidelines, and randomized controlled trials to learn more about the efficacy, side effects, and patient adherence associated with these medicines. Both medications have shown significant improvements in quality of life; nevertheless, differences in specific categories and side effect profiles suggest that tailored treatment plans are required. The current review also sheds light on the state of pain research today, with a focus on different interventional approaches like spinal cord stimulation, deepbrain stimulation, percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, neural blockade, steroid injection, transcranial/epidural stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, etc. Thus, further investigation into these interventional techniques may contribute to the hopeful development of novel medicines that can enhance the quality of life for neuropathic pain patients.

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