Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment

Diabetic Neuropathy Information

Treating Pain

For those with pain, burning, tingling, or numbness, your healthcare provider may suggest oral medications. There are two medicines specifically approved in the United States to treat pain from diabetic neuropathy. They include duloxetine (Cymbalta^®) and pregabalin (Lyrica^®).

Other options your healthcare provider may recommend include:

Aspirin
Acetaminophen
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. (People with kidney disease should use NSAIDs only under a doctor's supervision.)

A topical cream called capsaicin is another option.

Tricyclic antidepressant medications, such as amitriptyline, imipramine, and nortriptyline, or anticonvulsant medications, such as carbamazepine or gabapentin, may relieve pain in some people.

Codeine may be prescribed for a short time to relieve severe pain. Also, mexiletine -- used to regulate heartbeat -- has been effective in treating pain in several clinical trials.

Other treatment options for diabetic neuropathy pain include transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS), which uses small amounts of electricity to block pain signals, as well as:

Hypnosis
Relaxation training
Biofeedback
Acupuncture.

Walking regularly or using elastic stockings may also help leg pain.

Treatment for Gastrointestinal Problems

To relieve mild symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis -- indigestion, belching, nausea, or vomiting --doctors suggest eating small, frequent meals; avoiding fats; and eating less fiber. When symptoms are severe, the doctor may prescribe erythromycin to speed digestion, metoclopramide to speed digestion and help relieve nausea, or other drugs to help regulate digestion or reduce stomach acid secretion.

To relieve diarrhea or other bowel problems, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, such as tetracycline, or other medications as appropriate.

(Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment Continued: Page 3)
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