Evaluation of duloxetine for chronic pain conditions.

Summary Duloxetine hydrochloride (duloxetine) is used as a nonopioid analgesic for the treatment of certain chronic pain conditions. It is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and has been approved in the USA for the management of both diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. In addition, based on several studies demonstrating that duloxetine was efficacious in the management of chronic low back pain and chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis, duloxetine was approved for the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Effect sizes in studies of each of the aforementioned chronic pain conditions are comparable with other commonly used pain medications. Treatment-emergent adverse events are generally mild to moderate in severity, and tend to occur early and transiently.