Which antidepressants are best for treating chronic pain?
Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for chronic pain conditions even in people who do not have depression. But are these medications equally effective?
Antidepressants are thought to help by acting on chemicals in the brain that assist with pain relief, such as serotonin.
Although, traditionally, most antidepressants prescribed for pain treatment are tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline is the most commonly used for pain), the evidence is unclear on how well these drugs work – or whether they help treat most pain conditions.
In comparison, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) – particularly duloxetine – are more effective. They are also useful for a large number of pain conditions, including back pain, knee osteoarthritis, postoperative pain, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain.
