Neuropathic Pain affects 1% of the population and is difficult to manage. This chronic Pain induces psychological distress and impacts patients quality of life, especially cancer patients. The present study showed and compared the efficacy of pregabalin and duloxetine in lung cancer patients by using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Sign (LANSS).

The study included 44 patients diagnosed with neuropathic Pain (14 women and 30 men). It recorded the patients LANSS and VAS values before treatment after randomizing 22 patients to pregabalin and 22 patients to duloxetine therapy. 

Two patients stopped pregabalin therapy due to side effects (dizziness, constipation). The study recorded the patients LANSS and VAS values after 1 and 3 months of therapy.

On comparing LANSS and VAS scores before treatment, after 1 and 3 months of treatment with pregabalin and duloxetine, the study found a significant decrease in both scores in both groups at 1 and 3 months. Duloxetine reduced the LANSS scores more than pregabalin.

This study shows the effectiveness of both duloxetine and pregabalin in treating neuropathic pain in lung cancer patients.

Gül SK, Tepetam H, Gül HL. Duloxetine and pregabalin in neuropathic pain of lung cancer patients. Brain and Behaviour. 2020(10):3. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1527