According to research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, Duloxetine did not alleviate persistent osteoarthritis (OA) pain when compared to usual care.

Researchers randomized 132 patients who experienced chronic OA hip or knee pain and did not respond to paracetamol or NSAIDs. 66 patients received duloxetine combined with usual care, while 66 received usual care alone. 

The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) was used as the pain scale. The difference in pain was observed to be negligible at 3 months (adjusted difference -0.58, 95% CI -1.80 to 0.63) or 12 months (adjusted difference -0.26, 95% CI -1.86 to 1.34). Also, duloxetine had no significant effect (-0.32, 95% CI -2.32 to 1.67) in patients suffering from centralized pain. A minor difference was seen in WOMAC function scores at 3 months and 12 months.

No clinically significant benefit on chronic OA pain was seen when duloxetine was added to usual care compared to usual care alone. (MedPage Today May 10, 2022), Arthritis Rheumatol 2022; 74(5): 818-828.