NICE guidance - diabetic neuropathy
Last edited 04/2021 and last reviewed 04/2021
- NICE suggest that (1,3):
- for treatment of all neuropathic pain (except trigeminal neuralgia)
- offer a choice of amitriptyline, duloxetine
as initial treatment for neuropathic pain
- if the initial treatment is not effective or is not tolerated, offer
one of the remaining 3 drugs, and consider switching again if the
second and third drugs tried are also not effective or not tolerated
- consider tramadol only if acute rescue therapy is needed
- consider capsaicin cream for people with localised neuropathic pain who wish to avoid, or who cannot tolerate, oral treatments
- when withdrawing or switching treatment, taper the withdrawal regimen to take account of dosage and any discontinuation symptoms
- offer a choice of amitriptyline, duloxetine
as initial treatment for neuropathic pain
- for treatment of all neuropathic pain (except trigeminal neuralgia)
For NICE guidance regarding management of chronic pain (pain that lasts for more than 3 months) then see linked item.
In this guidance (3) NICE state that antiepileptic drugs including gabapentinoids should not be initiated to manage chronic primary pain in people aged 16 years and over.
Reference: