Guest Post: Benefits and harms of drugs for “neuropathic” pain Vol 41 No 1 - March 2016 | Mar. 11, 2016 Guest Post, Therapeutics Letter

This is a guest post by the UBC Therapeutics Initiative.

Drugs like gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, venlafaxine, and tricyclic antidepressants are often used to treat neuropathic pain. In fact, in the last decade, use of these drugs has steadily increased in BC residents with total spending approximately >$50 million per year.

How often do these drugs provide meaningful reductions in pain and at what doses? How soon can you tell if the drugs are helping reduce pain? How often will patients suffer harm from these drugs? Is there a practical strategy for using these drugs in patients with neuropathic pain based on the best available evidence?

January’s therapeutics letter includes the answers to these questions and more!

Therapeutics letter #96 - Benefits and harms of drugs for “neuropathic” pain

Read the full letter here: http://www.ti.ubc.ca/2016/01/19/96-benefits-and-harms-of-drugs-for-neuropathic-pain/

A big thank you goes to all who contributed including Aaron M Tejani, Anna Maruyama, Danielle Stacey, Tom Perry, Nathaniel Paras, Claire Tai, Jenny Hong, Mathew Lum, Michael Chan, Danielle Ghag, and Jim Wright.

How are these letters developed?

Considerable research and collaborative work goes into developing the Therapeutics letters. The process involves a literature review and development of the message by different working groups of the Therapeutics Initiative. A draft of the letter is reviewed by specialists who are expert in the particular therapeutic area and members of the Scientific Information and Education Committee.

Learn more

The Therapeutics Initiative was established in 1994 by the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in cooperation with the Department of Family Practice at The University of British Columbia with its mission to provide pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals with up-to-date, evidence-based, practical information on drug therapy. Visit www.ti.ubc.ca or follow them on Twitter @Drug_Evidence to learn more.