Study: Cymbalta Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Knee osteoarthritis patients treated with 60 mg and 120 mg Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) once daily experienced significant pain reduction compared to placebo. According to study results that were presented at EULAR (the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism), improvement in osteoarthritis pain was evident within the first week and lasted throughout the 13-week study. The study involved 231 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Results revealed that:

• 59% of patients treated with Cymbalta experienced a 30% improvement in pain compared to 45% of patients who took a placebo
• 47% of patients treated with Cymbalta experienced a 50% improvement in pain compared to 29% of those given placebo
• Improvement in physical function was also observed

In the study, side effects associated with Cymbalta included nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, high blood pressure, constipation, and decreased libido.

Cymbalta is believed to increase the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and affect pain perception. Cymbalta is FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in adults, and has just been approved to treat fibromyalgia syndrome as well.

Related Resources:

• Knee Osteoarthritis Overview
• Test Your Knowledge: Knee Osteoarthritis
• Cymbalta: Dosage, Side Effects, and Warnings
• Cymbalta Approved for Fibromyalgia Treatment
• Do Antidepressants Help Chronic Pain Patients?

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