Morphine versus mexiletine for treatment of postamputation pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stump and phantom pains are debilitating sequelae of amputations that are often resistant to treatment. The efficacy of pharmacologic therapies, including opioids and sodium channel blockers, for postamputation pain is uncertain.

Methods

The authors conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in adult patients with postamputation pain of 6 months or longer and greater than 3 on a 0-10 numeric pain rating scale. Each of the three treatment periods (morphine, mexiletine, or placebo) included a 1-week drug-free interval followed by 4-week titration, 2-week maintenance, and 2-week drug-taper phases. The primary outcome measure was change in average pain intensity from the drug-free baseline to the last week of maintenance.

Results

SUBMITTER: Wu CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2654208 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature