The effect of duloxetine on primary pain symptoms in Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of duloxetine (Cymbalta), a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, on pain symptoms in Parkinson Disease (PD). METHODS/PATIENTS: Twenty-three patients with PD with painful phenomena were treated with duloxetine for 6 weeks in an open-label design. Assessments were performed before and at treatment completion and consisted of a Visual Analogue Scale, the Brief Pain Inventory, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Parkinson Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire-39-item version, and motor part of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. Pain threshold was assessed by quantitative sensory tests. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 20 patients who completed the study reported varying degrees of pain relief. The mean Visual Analogue Scale, Brief Pain Inventory, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire scores decreased significantly. There was no change in pain threshold after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Duloxetine seems to be effective for the treatment of central pain in PD.