Duloxetine for individuals with chronic back pain: A systematic review and meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

The current study aimed to assess the efficacy of duloxetine in reducing pain and improving the quality of life of individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP). An extensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies that examined the efficacy of duloxetine in CLBP management. The primary objective of the present study was to assess the role of duloxetine use on pain levels, as well as improvements in quality of life, using validated instruments. The results were synthesized using a random-effects model. A total of 8 studies were included in the analysis. Duloxetine demonstrated clear benefits in pain reduction, evidenced by improvements across multiple scales including the visual analogue scale, brief pain inventory-interference (BPI), BPI-severity, weekly worst pain over 24 hours and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire scores. Quality of life improved with duloxetine treatment, as indicated by the 36-item short form survey (SF-36). However, there was no significant impact on the physical function component of SF-36. The present study provides evidence to affirm the efficacy of duloxetine in treating CLBP. Further research is required to validate these findings and to establish whether combining duloxetine with other CLBP treatments yields superior outcomes.