Effects of Venlafaxine on Chronic Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the pain-relieving effects of venlafaxine hydrochloride (Effexor) in chronic neuropathic (burning, shock-like, electric) pain after spinal cord injury (SCI). Although a number of medications have been used to treat SCI pain, no drug has been consistently helpful, and, therefore, many people with SCI continue to have difficult chronic pain. Venlafaxine is a new anti-depressant drug that has not been tested for use in SCI neuropathic pain, but has been helpful for other types of neuropathic pain.

Timeline

Start

2005-06

Primary completion

2007-08

Completion

2008-08

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper The average daily pain intensity as reported in the diary (primary outcome) was not significantly reduced by venlafaxine compared with placebo. PMID 11888224 ↗

Publications

• Results Sindrup SH, Jensen TS. Efficacy of pharmacological treatments of neuropathic pain: an update and effect related to mechanism of drug action. Pain. 1999 Dec;83(3):389-400. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(99)00154-2.
• Results Defrin R, Ohry A, Blumen N, Urca G. Characterization of chronic pain and somatosensory function in spinal cord injury subjects. Pain. 2001 Jan;89(2-3):253-63. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3959(00)00369-9.
• Results Widerstrom-Noga EG, Felipe-Cuervo E, Yezierski RP. Chronic pain after spinal injury: interference with sleep and daily activities. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Nov;82(11):1571-7. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2001.26068.
• Results Tasmuth T, Hartel B, Kalso E. Venlafaxine in neuropathic pain following treatment of breast cancer. Eur J Pain. 2002;6(1):17-24. doi: 10.1053/eujp.2001.0266.
• Results Westgren N, Levi R. Quality of life and traumatic spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Nov;79(11):1433-9. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90240-4.

Drugs

Indications