To observe the short-term effect and safety of duloxetine combined with pregabalin in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

Sixty patients with postherpetic neuralgia in the chest and abdomen, both sexes, aged 40-70 years old, in the Department of Pain Medicine of Weifang People's Hospital from January 2017 to January 2018 were randomly divided into pregabalin group (group P, n=30) and duloxetine combined with pregabalin group (group DP, n=30). The patients were treated with duloxetine combined with pregabalin in group DP, while the patients were treated with pregabalin capsule in group P. The clinical effect was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). The pain levels and adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting were observed at 7, 14 and 28 d after the treatment. The effects were evaluated after the treatment course.

The VAS was significantly lower in the group DP than that in group P at 14 and 28 d after the treatment[ (2.4±0.7) vs. (3.1±0.8) , (2.0±0.5) vs. (2.7±0.7) , all P<0.05], but no significant difference at 7 d after the treatment between two groups(P>0.05). No significant differences were found in the adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting in the two groups after the treatment (all P>0.05). The effects was significantly better in group DP than that in group P (83% vs. 50%, P<0.05).

The short-term effect of duloxetine combined with pregabalin is superior to pregabalin only in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia, without significant adverse reactions.

Duloxetine; Pregabalin; Neuralgia, postherpetic