What drugs are used to treat diabetic neuropathy?
The most important drugs used to treat diabetic neuropathy are the diabetes drugs. Only with optimal and consistent blood sugar control can the progression of diabetic neuropathy be permanently restricted and the accompanying symptoms be attenuated or even completely eliminated. Depending on the type of diabetes, insulin injections and/or oral medication are used.
These are discussed in more detail in the corresponding article on diabetes treatment. Tricyclic antidepressants play a central role in the treatment of sensory disturbances and neuropathic pain. The name derives from the fact that these substances were initially used to treat depression, only later were their positive effects on nerve pain discovered.
The most common representatives of this class of drugs are amitryptilin, imipramine and nortryptilin. If there are side effects of these drugs or their use has caused too many side effects, carbamazepine can be prescribed as an alternative. Another alternative is the application of capsaicin cream to the affected areas, although many people affected do not tolerate this too well.
Current research is looking into the development of substances that could not only treat the pain, but also influence the structural damage to the nerve. So far, however, a positive effect has only been proven for the intravenous (i.e. administered by infusion) administration of α lipoic acid. Tricyclic antidepressants play a central role in the treatment of paresthesia and neuropathic pain.
The name derives from the fact that these substances were initially used to treat depression, only later were their positive effects on nerve pain discovered. The most common representatives of this class of drugs are amitryptilin, imipramine and nortryptilin. If there are side effects of these drugs or their use has caused too many side effects, carbamazepine can be prescribed as an alternative.
Another alternative is the application of capsaicin cream to the affected areas, although many people affected do not tolerate this too well. Current research is looking into the development of substances that could not only treat the pain, but also influence the structural damage to the nerve. So far, however, a positive effect has only been proven for the intravenous (i.e. administered by infusion) administration of α lipoic acid.
