Back pain, osteoarthritis … Patients who suffer from chronic pain are often referred first-line to drugs such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). When these molecules fail to improve their daily lives, another category – sometimes unexpected for patients – is offered to them in order to relieve pain: antidepressants. These treatments with anxiolytic or hypnotic properties also have an analgesic effect. Valium, for example, is known to be a muscle relaxant as well.
However, are these (common) prescriptions justified if we consider their many side effects (drowsiness or excitement, weight gain or loss, drop in blood pressure, libido, etc.) and that the question also arises. addiction?
Researchers at the University of Sydney (Australia) performed a meta-analysis of more than 30 clinical trials, including more than 5,000 patients. These studies evaluated the effectiveness of antidepressants on back pain or osteoarthritis of the knee. According to their findings, published in the journal British Medical Journal, this category of drugs would not be very effective.
On a pain scale from 0 to 100, scientists estimated that 10 points of pain reduction were needed to assign pain-relieving efficacy to a molecule. However, after three months, antidepressants would reduce pain by only 5.3 points in patients with back pain and 9.7 points for osteoarthritis pain. This suggests lower efficacy for low back pain and barely acceptable benefit in patients with osteoarthritis.
However, there is no question of stopping current treatment if you have chronic pain. Talk to your doctor or rheumatologist to make sure that these molecules – which can sometimes be difficult to wean off – are right for you and that an alternative treatment is not possible.
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