• Daniel K Kajdasz, Smriti Iyengar, Durisala Desaiah, Misha-Miroslav Backonja, John T Farrar, David A Fishbain, Troels S Jensen, Michael C Rowbotham, Christine N Sang, Dan Ziegler, and Henry J McQuay.
• Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA. kaidasz_daniel_k@lilly.com
• Clin Ther. 2007 Jan 1;29 Suppl:2536-46.

ObjectiveThis post hoc analysis was aimed to summarize the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine as represented by number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) to provide a clinically useful assessment of the position of duloxetine among current agents used to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP).MethodsData were pooled from three 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group studies in which patients received 60 mg duloxetine either QD or BID or placebo. NNT was calculated based on rates of response (defined as >or=30% and >or=50% reductions from baseline in the weekly mean of the 24-hour average pain severity scores); NNH was calculated based on rates of discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs).ResultsPatients receiving duloxetine 60 mg QD and 60 mg BID had NNTs (95% CI) of 5.2 (3.8-8.3) and 4.9 (3.6-7.6), respectively, based on last observation carried forward; NNTs of 5.3 (3.8-8.3) for 60 mg QD and 5.7 (4.1-9.7) for 60 mg BID were obtained based on baseline observations carried forward. The NNHs (95% CI) based on discontinuation due to AEs were 17.5 (10.2-58.8) in the duloxetine 60-mg QD group and 8.8 (6.3-14.7) in the 60-mg BID group.ConclusionThese post hoc results suggest that duloxetine was effective and well tolerated for the management of DPNP and further support the importance of duloxetine as a treatment option for clinicians and patients to assist with the management of DPNP.

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