Drug induced peripheral neuropathy (DIPN) accounts for only 4% of all neuropathies, and about 60% of patients undergoing chemotherapy have the chance to develop DIPN.
A recently published
narrative review in 'Current Clinical Pharmacology' illustrated the
treatment options for drug-induced peripheral neuropathy
(DIPN).
Peripheral neuropathy is a distressing ailment with
various etiologies and specific medications have found to be
associated with the development of DIPN. These include
antimicrobials, chemotherapeutic agents, anticonvulsants,
cardiovascular drugs, psychotropic etc. DIPN has shown to be
developed in a dose-dependent fashion after the continued use of a
neurotoxic agent in many cases. DIPN development should be suspected
in patients who are receiving drug treatment and report the new onset
symptoms of pain, paresthesia, or weakness. The motor and sensory
nerve conduction studies may support the clinical diagnosis in
patients in whom a history of DIPN is doubted. The occurrence of DIPN
becomes even more prevalent in patients with risk factors such as
diabetes, pre-existing neuropathy or genetically predisposing
diseases. Often, DIPN is challenging to treat, but medications like
duloxetine and gabapentin have been proved to decrease the
neuropathic pain. The advanced techniques of neuromodulation are
quite promising but more randomised and controlled studies are
required in future to confirm the efficacy of them.
Current Clinical Pharmacology
Drug-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, a Narrative Review
Jones MR et al.
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