Abstract
Antidepressants are a primary treatment option for many chronic pain conditions even when depression is not a presenting symptom. Multiple classes have proven efficacy in the treatment of neuropathic pain conditions such as diabetic neuropathy as well as fibromyalgia and migraines. TCAs are the most commonly used along side with SSRI and SNRI. Second-generation antidepressant drugs have improved side effect profile and tolerance verses first-generation antidepressants. MAOIs have multiple drug reactions, and severe adverse effects and so should be avoided. The use of antidepressants can lower the overall opioid dose required in management of chronic pain.
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Abbreviations
- ARDS:
-
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- ASA:
-
Aspirin
- CNS:
-
Central nervous system
- EKG:
-
Electrocardiogram
- FM:
-
Fibromyalgia
- GABA:
-
Gamma-aminobutyric acid
- GI:
-
Gastrointestinal
- 5-HT:
-
5-Hydroxytryptamine
- HTN:
-
Hypertension
- INR:
-
International normalized ratio
- MAOIs:
-
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- NMDA:
-
N-Methyl-d-aspartate
- NSAIDs:
-
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- SNRI:
-
Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
- SSRIs:
-
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- TCA:
-
Tricyclic antidepressants
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Desai, J. (2015). Neuropathic Antidepressant Medications. In: Sackheim, K. (eds) Pain Management and Palliative Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2462-2_12
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