Mexiletine in the Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy

Author:

Stracke Hilmar1,Meyer Ulrike E1,Schumacher Helmut E1,Federlin Konrad1

Affiliation:

1. Med. Kunik III und Poliklinik der Justus-Liebig Universitaet Giessen; The Boehringer Ingelheim KG, Abteilung Medizin; Boehringer Ingelheim Deutschland; and the MDI-Biometrie

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To prove the efficacy of mexiletine in painful diabetic neuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Treatment was provided in three dosages. For pain measurements, a VAS and McGill's verbal rating scale were chosen. Ninety-five patients were included in the study. RESULTS A global assessment of the VAS among patients showed no differences between mexiletine treatment and placebo. The total evaluation (PRIT) of the McGill scale fell just below the level of significance. More specific exploratory evaluations of subclasses of the McGill scale, representing different degrees of pain, gave remarkable differences between mexiletine and placebo in sensory and miscellaneous items. In special subgroups, which were formed according to types and courses of complaints compiled at the beginning of this evaluation, the substantial advantages of the mexiletine treatment were shown with both the VAS and the McGill scale. CONCLUSIONS Evidence strongly indicates that, in particular, those patients with stabbing or burning pain, heat sensations, or formication will benefit most by mexiletine therapy. Concerning the dosage, a medium regimen of 450 mg/day seems to be appropriate. With an increase in the antiarryhthmic dosage level, the efficacy does not rise proportionally. Mexiletine proved to be a safe therapy with negligible side effects at the medium dose range, even < placebo; and remarkably, no cardiovascular side effects were noted. Further studies should avoid global assessments and pay more attention to the variety of complaints and quality of life.

Publisher

American Diabetes Association

Subject

Advanced and Specialized Nursing,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,Internal Medicine

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3