Which medication is listed as an effective treatment for peripheral neuropathy?

• A. Duloxetine
• B. Gabapentin
• C. Pregabalin
• D. Tricyclic antidepressants

Answer: (A)

Duloxetine works for neuropathic pain because it’s an SNRI that increases serotonin and norepinephrine in the pain pathways, helping to dampen neuropathic signaling. In chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, trials have shown that duloxetine can produce meaningful reductions in pain and improve function, with a tolerable side-effect profile.

Gabapentin and pregabalin are sometimes used for neuropathic pain, but the evidence specifically for CIPN is less consistent, and their benefits can be variable. Tricyclic antidepressants can help some patients with neuropathic pain but carry more anticholinergic and cardiovascular risks, which makes them less favorable in many chemotherapy patients.

So, among common options, duloxetine has the strongest, most consistent evidence for effective treatment of peripheral neuropathy in this context.