Is there any evidence to support the use of anti-depressants in painful rheumatological conditions? Systematic review of pharmacological and clinical studies

Rheumatology

Volumn 47, Issue 8, 2008, Pages 1117-1123

  Perrot, Serge ^a   Javier, R M ^b   Marty, M ^c   Le Jeunne, C ^a   Laroche, F ^d  

^a HÔTEL DIEU   (France)

^b HÔPITAL DE HAUTEPIERRE   (France)

^c HENRI MONDOR HOSPITAL   (France)

^d HÔPITAL SAINT ANTOINE   (France)

Author keywords

Ankylosing spondylitis; Anti depressants; Fibromyalgia; Low back pain; Musculoskeletal; Osteoarthritis; Pain; Rheumatoid arthritis

Indexed keywords

AMFEBUTAMONE; AMITRIPTYLINE; ANALGESIC AGENT; ANTIDEPRESSANT AGENT; CITALOPRAM; CLOMIPRAMINE; CYCLOBENZAPRINE; DESIPRAMINE; DOSULEPIN; DOXEPIN; DULOXETINE; FLUOXETINE; MAPROTILINE; MIANSERIN; MILNACIPRAN; MIRTAZAPINE; MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITOR; NEFAZODONE; NONSTEROID ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENT; NORADRENALIN UPTAKE INHIBITOR; NORTRIPTYLINE; PAROXETINE; PLACEBO; REBOXETINE; SEROTONIN UPTAKE INHIBITOR; SERTRALINE; TIANEPTINE; TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANT AGENT; UNINDEXED DRUG; VENLAFAXINE;

ANALGESIA; ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY; CHRONIC DISEASE; CLINICAL STUDY; CLINICAL TRIAL; CONFUSION; CONSTIPATION; DIZZINESS; DROWSINESS; DRUG BIOAVAILABILITY; DRUG BLOOD LEVEL; DRUG CLASSIFICATION; DRUG DOSE COMPARISON; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG MECHANISM; DRUG TOLERABILITY; DRUG USE; DYSURIA; EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE; EYE ACCOMMODATION DISORDER; EYE DISEASE; FATIGUE; FIBROMYALGIA; FIRST PASS EFFECT; HUMAN; HYPERTENSION; IMPOTENCE; LOW BACK PAIN; LOW DRUG DOSE; MEMORY DISORDER; METHODOLOGY; NAUSEA; NONHUMAN; ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION; PAIN; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; RHEUMATIC DISEASE; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS; SEDATION; SEROTONIN SYNDROME; SIDE EFFECT; SLEEP DISORDER; SOMNOLENCE; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; TACHYCARDIA; TREMOR; VOMITING; WEIGHT GAIN; XEROSTOMIA;

ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS; ARTHRITIS; CHRONIC DISEASE; EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE; FIBROMYALGIA; HUMANS; LOW BACK PAIN; PAIN; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC; RHEUMATIC DISEASES;

EID: 47849108805     PISSN: 14620324     EISSN: 14620332     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken110     Document Type: Review

References (114)

1. Onghena P, Van Houdenhove B. Antidepressant-induced analgesia in chronic non-malignant pain: A meta-analysis of 39 placebo-controlled studies. Pain 1992;49:205-2.
2. Lynch EM. Antidepressants as analgesics: A review of randomised controlled trials. J Psych Neurosci 2001;26:30-6.
3. Zitman FG, Linsse ACG, Edelbroek PM, Van Kempen GM. Clinical effectiveness of antidepressants and antipsychotics in chronic benign pain. Clin Neuropharm 1992;15(Suppl 1):377A.
4. Barkin RL, Fawcett J. The management challenges of chronic pain: The role of antidepressants. Am J Therapeut 2000;7:31-47.
5. Egbunike IG, Chaffe BJ. Antidepressants in the management of chronic syndromes. Pharmacotherapy 1990;10:262-70.
6. Phillip M, Fickinger M. Psychotropic drugs in the management of chronic pain syndromes. Pharmacopsychiatry 1993;26:221-34.
7. Sindrup SH. Antidepressants as analgesics. In: Yaksh T. I. et al. ed. Anesthesia; biologic foundations. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven, 1997.
8. Perrot S. Maheu E, Javier RM et al. Guidelines for the use of antidepressants in painful rheumatic conditions. Eur J Pain 2006;10:185-92.
9. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D et al. Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials 1996;17:1-12.
10. Shekelle PG, Woolf SH, Eccles M, Grimshaw J. Clinical guidelines: developing guidelines. Br Med J 1999;318:593-6.
11. Eschalier A, Ardid D, Dubray C. Tricyclic and other antidepressants as analgesics. In: Sawynok J, Cowan A, eds. Novel aspects of pain management: Oploids and beyond. New York: Wiley-Liss, 1999;303-19.
12. Sawynok J, Esser MJ, Reid AR. Antidepresssants as analgesics: An overview of central and peripheral mechanisms of action. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2001;26:21-9.
13. Blier P, Abbott FV. Putative mechanisms of action of antidepressant drugs in affective and anxiety disorders and pain. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2001;26:37-43.
14. Bryson HM, Wilde MI. Amitriptyline. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in chronic pain states. Drugs Aging 1996;8:459-76.
15. Mico JA, Ardid D, Berrococo E, Eschalier A. Antidepressants and pain. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2006;27:348-54.
16. Yaron I, Shirazi I, Judovich R, Levartovsky D, Caspi D, Yaron M. Fluoxetine and amitriptyline inhibit nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and hyaluronic acid production in human synovial cells and synovial tissue cultures. Arthritis Rheum 1999;42:2561-8.
17. Hood SD, Argyropoulos SV, Nutt DJ. Arthritis and serotoninergic antidepressants, J Clin Psychopharmacol 2001;24:458-61.
18. Sindrup SH, Grodum E, Gram LF, Beck-Nielsen H. Concentration response relationship of paroxetine treatment in diabetic neuropathy. A patient-blinded dose escalation study. J Monit 1991;13:408-14.
19. Furlanut M, Benetello P, Spina E. Pharmacokinetic optimisation of tricyclic antidepressant therapy. Clin Pharmacokinet 1993;24:301-18.
20. McQuay HJ, Carroll D, Glynn CJ. Low-dose amitriptyline in the treatment of chronic pain. Anesthesia 1992;47:646-52.
21. Sullivan MD, Robinson JP. Antidepressant and anticonvulsant medication for chronic pain. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2006;17:381-400.
22. Rasmussen PV, Jensen TS, Sindrup SH, Bach FW. TDM-based imipramine treatment in neuropathic pain. Ther Drug Morit 2004;26:352-60.
23. Ansari A. The efficacy of newer antidepressants in the treatment of chronic pain: A review of current literature. Harvard Rev Psychiatry 2000;7:257-77.
24. Wernicke JF, Pritchett YL, D'USouza DN et al. A randomized controlled trial of duloxetine in diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. Neurology 2006;67:1411-20.
25. Max MB, Zeigler D, Shoal SE et al. Effects of single oral dose of desipramine on postoperative morphine analgesia. J Pain Symptom Manag 1992;7:454-62.
26. Rollins DE, Alvin G, Bertilsson L et al. Interindividual differences in amitriptyline demethylation. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1980;1:121-9.
27. Pollock BG, Perel JM, Shostac M, Antelman SM, Brandon B, Kupfer DJ. Understanding the response lag to tricycles: Application of pulse loading regimens with intravenous clomipramine. Psychopharmacol Bull 1986;22:214-9.
28. Magni G. The use of antidepressants in the treatment of chronic pain. A review of the current evidence. Drugs 1991;42:730-48.
29. Sindrup SH, Brosen K, Gram LF. Antidepressant in pain treatment: antidepressant or analgesic effect? Clin Neuropharm 1992;15:636A-7A.
30. McQuay HJ, Tramèr M, Nye BA, Carroll D, Wiffen PJ, Moore RA. A systematic review of antidepressants in neuropathic pain. Pain 1996;68:217-27.
31. Sindrup SH, Jensen TS. Efficacy of pharmacological treatments of neuropathic pain: An update and effect related to mechanism of drug action. Pain 1999;83: 389-400.
32. Richardson PH, de Wiliams A. Meta-analysis of antidepressant-induced analgesia in chronic pain: Comment. Pain 1993;52:247-9.
33. Philipp M, Fickinger M. Psychotropic drugs in the management of chronic pain syndromes. Pharmacopsychiatry 1993;26:221-34.
34. Fishbain DA, Cutler RB, Rosomoff HL, Rosomoff RS. Do antidepressants have an analgesic effect in psychogenic pain and somatoform pain disorder: A meta-analysis. J Psychosomatic Med 1998;60:503-9.
35. Smith AJ. The analgesic effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. J Psychopharmacol 1998;12:407-13.
36. Attal N, Cruccu G, Hanpaa M et al. EFNS guidelines on pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain. E J Neurol 2006;13:1153-60.
37. Rowbotham MC, Goli V, Kuntz NR et al. Velafaxine extended release in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Pain 2004;110:697-706.
38. Sayer K, Aksu G, Ak I, Tosun M. Venlafaxine treatment of fibromyalgia. Ann Pharmacother 2003;37:1561-5.
39. Goldstein DJ, Lu Y, Detke MJ, Lee TC, Iyengar S. Duloxetine vs placebo in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Pain 2005;116:109-18.
40. Jaeschke R, Adachi J, Guyatt G, Keller J, Wong B. Clinical usefulness of amitriptyline in fibromyalgia: The results of 23N-of-1 randomized controlled trials. J Rheumatol 1991;18:447-51.
41. White KP, Harth M. An analytical review of 24 controlled clinical trials of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Pain 1996;64:211-9.
42. O'Malley PG, Balden E, Tomkins G, Santoro J, Kroenke K, Jackson JL. Treatment of fibromyalgia with antidepressants. A meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2000:15:659-66.
43. Arnold LM, Keck PE, Welge JA. Antidepressant treatment of fibromyalgia. A meta-analysis and review. Psychosomatics 2000;41:104-13.
44. Moret C, Briley M. Antidepressants in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Neuropsy Dis Treat 2006;2:537-48.
45. Goldenberg DL, Felson DT, Dinerman H. A randomised, controlled trial of amitriptyline and naproxene in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum 1986;29:1371-7.
46. Carette S, McCain GA, Bell DA, Fam AG. Evaluation of amitriptyline in primary fibrositis. A double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Arthritis Rheum 1986;29:655-9.
47. Bibolotti E, Borghi C, Pasculli E et al. The management of fibrositis. A double-blind comparison of maprotiline (Ludiomil) clorimipramine and placebo. Clin Trials J 1986;23:269-80.
48. Caruso I, Sarzi Puttini PC, Boccassini L et al. Double-blind study of dothiepin versus placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome. J Int Med Res 1987;15:154-9.
49. Bennett RM, Gatter RA, Campbell SM, Andrews RP, Clark SR, Scarola JA. A comparison of cyclobenzaprine and placebo in the management of fibrositis. A double-blind controlled study. Arthritis Rheum 1988;31:1535-42.
50. Hamaty D, Valentine JL, Howard R, Howard CW, Wakefield V, Patten MS. The plasma endorphin, prostaglandin and catecholamine profile of patients with fibrositis treated with cyclobenzaprine and placebo: A 5-month study. J Rheumatol 1989;19(Suppl):164-8.
51. Scudds RA, McCain GA, Rollman GB, Harth M. Improvements in pain responsiveness in patients with fibrositis after successful treatment with amitriptyline. J Rheumatol 1989;19(Suppl):98-103.
52. Quimby LG, Gratwick GM, Whitney CD, Block SR. A randomized trial of cyclobenzaprine for the treatment of flbromyalgia. J Rheumatol 1989; 19(Suppl):140-3.
53. Reynolds WJ, Moldofsky H, Saskin P, Lue FA. The effects of cyclobenzaprine on sleep physiology and symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. J Rhoumatol 1991;18:452-4.
54. Fossaluzza V, De Vita S. Combined therapy with cyclobenzaprine and ibuprofen in primary fibromyalgia syndrome. Int J Clin Pharm Res 1992;XII:99-102.
55. Carette S, Bell MJ, Reynolds WJ et al. Comparison of amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine, and placebo in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum 1994;37:32-40.
56. Cantini F, Bellandi F, Niccoli L, Di Munno O. Fluoxetina associate a ciclobenzaprina nel trattamento della fibromialgia. Minerva Med 1994;85:97-100.
57. Goldenberg D, Mayskiy M, Mossey C, Ruthaser R, Schmid C. A randomized, double-blind crossover trial of fluoxetine and amitriptyline in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:1852-9.
58. Ginsberg F, Mancaux A, Joos E, Vanhove P, Famaey JP. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of sustained-release amitriptyline in primary fibromyalgia. J Musculoskel Pain 1996;4:37-47.
59. Hannonen P, Malmlniemi K, Yli-Kerttula U, Isomed R, Roponen P. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of moclobemide and amitriptyline in the treatment of fibromyalgia in females without psychiatric disorder. Br J Rheumatol 1998;37:1279-86.
60. Heymann RE, Helfenstein M, Feldman D. A double-blind, randomised, controlled study of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and placebo in patients with fibromyalgia. An analysis of outcome measures. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2001;19:697-702.
61. Norregard J, Volkmann H. Danneskiold-Samsoe B. A randomized controlled study of citalopram in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Pain 1995;61:445-9.
62. Anderberg UA, Marteinsdottir I, von Knorring L. Citalopram in patients with fibromyalgia - a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Pain 2000;4:27-35.
63. Geller SA. Treatment of fibrositis with fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac®). Am J Med 1989;87:594-5.
64. Cortet B, Houvenagel E, Forzy G, Vincent G, Delcambre B. Evaluation of the effectiveness of serotonin (fluoxetine hydrochloride) treatment. Open study in fibromyalgia. Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic 1992;59:497-500.
65. Wolfe F, Cathay MA, Hawley DJ. A double-blind placebo controlled trial of fluoxetine in fibromyalgia. Scand J Rheumatoll 1994;23:255-9.
66. Arnold LM, Hess EV, Hudson JI, Welge JA, Berno SE, Kock PE Jr. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, flexible-dose study of fluoxetine in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia. Am J Med 2002;112:191-7.
67. Ataoglu S, Ataoglu A, Erdoan F, Saraq J. Comparison of paroxetine, amitriptyline in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Turk J Med Sci 1997;27:535-9.
68. Patkar AA, Masand PS, Krulewicz S et al. A randomized, controlled, trial of controlled-release paroxetine in fibromyalgia. Am J Med 2007;120:448-54.
69. Dwight MM, Arnold LD, O'Brien H, Metzger R, Morris-Park E, Kock PE. An open trial of venlafaxine treatment of fibromyalgia. Psychosomatics 1998;39:14-7.
70. Arnold LM, Lu Y, Crofford U et al. A double-blind, multicenter trial comparing duloxetine with placebo in the treatment of fibromyalgia patients with or without major depressive disorder. Arthritis Rheum 2004;50:2974-84.
71. Arnold LM, Rosen A, Pritchett YL et al. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of duloxetine in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia with or without major depressive disorder. Pain 2005;119:5-15.
72. Gendreau RM, Thorn MD, Gendreau JF et al. Efficacy of milnacipran in patients with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 2005;32:1975-85.
73. Olin R, Klein R, Berg PA. A randomised double-blind 16-week study of ritanserin in fibromyalgia syndrome: Clinical outcome and analysis of autoantibodies to serotonin, gangliosides and phospholipids. Clin Rheumatol 1998;17:89-94.
74. Carville SF, Arendt-Neilsen L, Bliddal H et al. EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Ann Rheum Dis 2008;67:536-41.
75. Jenkins DG, Ebbutt AF, Evans CD. Tofranil in the treatment of low back pain. J Int Med Res 1976;4:28-40.
76. Alcoff J, Jones E, Rust P, Newman R. Controlled trial of imipramine for chronic low back pain. J Fam Pract 1982;841-6.
77. Pheasant H, Bursk A, Godfarb J, Azen SP, Weiss JN, Borelli L. Amitriptyline and chronic low back pain. Spine 1983;8:552-7.
78. Goodkin K, Gullion DM, Agras WS. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of trazodone hydrochloride in chronic low back pain syndrome. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1990;10:269-78.
79. Trèves R, Montaine de la Roque P, Dumond JJ, Bertin P, Arnaud M, Desproges-Gotteron R. Prospective study of the analgesic action of clomipramine versus placebo in refractory lumbosciatica. (68 cases). Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic 1991;58:549-52.
80. Stein D, Peri T, Edelstein E, Elizur A, Floman Y. The efficacy of amitriptyline and acetaminophen in the management of acute low back pain. Psychosomatics 1996;36:63-70.
81. Atkinson JH, Slater MA, Williams RA et al. A placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial of nortriptyline for chronic low back pain. Pain 1998;76:287-96.
82. Atkinson JH, Slater MA, Wahlgreen DR et al. Effects of noradrenergic and serotoninergic antidepressants on chronic low back pain. Pain 1999;83:137-45.
83. Dickens C, Jayson M, Sutton C, Creed F. The relationship between pain and depression in a trial using paroxetine in sufferers of chronic low back pain. Psychosomatics 2000;41:490-9.
84. Schreiber S, Vinokur S, Shavelzon V et al. A randomized trial of fluoxetine versus amitriptyline in musculoskeletal pain. Isr J Psychiatry Rel Sci 2001;38:88-94.
85. Katz J, Pennella-Vaughan J, Hetzel RD, Kanazi GE, Dworkin RH. A randomised placebo-controlled trial of bupropion sustained release in chronic low back pain. J Pain 2005;6:656-61.
86. Ward NG. Tricyclic antidepressants for chronic low back pain. Spine 1986;11:661-5.
87. Turner JA, Denny MC. Do antidepressant agents relieve chronic low back pain? J Fam Pract 1993;37:545-53.
88. van Tulder MW, Koes BW, Bouter LM. Conservative treatment of acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain. Spine 1997;22:2128-56.
89. Fishbain D. Evidence-based data on pain relief with antidepressants. Ann Med 2000;32:305-16.
90. Salerno SM, Browning R, Jackson JL. The effect of antidepressant treatment on chronic back pain. Arch Intern Med 2002;162:19-24.
91. Staiger TO, Gaster B, Sullivan MD, A Deyo R. Systematic review of antidepressants in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Spine 2003;28:2540-45.
92. Schnitzer TJ, Ferraro A, Hunsche E, Kong SX. A comprehensive review of clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of drugs for the treatment of low back pain. Pain Symptom Manage 2004;28:72-95.
93. McDonald Scott WA. The relief of pain with an antidepressant in arthritis. Practitioner 1969;202(Suppl 3):802-7.
94. Ganvir P, Beaumont G, Seldrup J. A comparative trial of clomipramine and placebo as adjunctive therapy in arthralgia. J Int Med Res 1980;8(Suppl):60-6.
95. Grace EM, Bellamy N, Kassam Y, Buchanan WW. Controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of amitriptyline in relieving articular pain and tenderness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Med Res Opin 1985;9:426-9.
96. Macfarlane JG, Jalali S, Grace EM. Trimipramine in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized double-blind trial in relieving pain and joint tenderness. Curr Med Res Opin 1986;10:89-93.
97. Frank RG, Kashani JH, Parker JC et al. Antidepressant analgesia in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 1988;15:1632-8.
98. Sarzi Puttini P, Cazzola M, Boccassini L et al. A comparison of dothiepin versus placebo in the treatment of pain in rheumatoid arthritis and the association of pain with depression. J Int Med Res 1988;16:331-7.
99. Ash G, Dickens CM, Creed FH, Jayson MI, Tomenson B. The effects of dothiepin on subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and depression. Rheumatology 1999;38:959-67.
100. Bird H, Broggini M. Paroxetine versus amitriptyline for treatment of depression associated with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double blind, parallel group study. J Rheumatol 2000;27:2791-7.
101. Koh WH, Pande I, Samuels A, Jones SD, Calin A. Low-dose amitriptyline in ankylosing spondylitis: A short-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Rheumatol 1997;4:2158-61.
102. Lin EH, Katon W, Von Korff M et al. Effect of improving depression care on pain and functional outcomes among older adults with arthritis: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Med Assoc 2003;290:2428-9.
103. MacNeill AL, Dick WC. Imipramine and rheumatoid factor. J Int Med Res 1976;4(Suppl 2):23-7.
104. McQuay HJ, Carroll D, Glynn CJ. Dose-response for analgesic effect of amitriptyline in chronic pain. Anaesthesia 1993;48:281-5.
105. Wheatley D. Antidepressants in elderly arthritics. Practitioner 1986;230:477-81.
106. Thorpe P, Marchant-Williams R. The role of an antidepressant, dibenzepin (Noveril), in the relief of pain in chronic arthritic states. Med J Aust 1974;1:264-6.
107. Gringras M. A clinical trial of tofranil in rheumatic pain in general practice. J Int Med Res 1976;4(Suppl 2):41-9.
108. Usha Rani P, Naidu MUR, Prasad VBN, Rao TRK, Shobha JC. An evaluation of antidepressants in rheumatic pain conditions. Anesth Analg 1996;83:371-5.
109. Baldessarini RJ. Drugs and the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In: Goodman GA, Rall TTW, Nies AS, Taylor P, eds. The pharmacological basis of therapeutics Vol. 8. New York: Pergamon Press, 1990;383-435.
110. Glassman AH, Bigger JT. Cardiovascular effects of therapeutic doses of tricyclic antidepressants. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;36:815-9.
111. Watson C, Peter N. Antidepressant drugs as adjuvant analgesics. J Pain Symptom Manag 1994;9:392-405.
112. Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Hoog SL. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors discontinuation syndrome. A randomized clinical trial. Biol Psychiatry 1998;44:77-87.
113. Reus VI, Rawitscher L. Possible interaction of tramadol and antidepressants. Am J Psychiatry 2000;157:839.
114. Curatolo M, Bogduk N. Pharmacologic pain treatment of musculoskeletal disorders: Current perspectives and future prospects. Clin J Pain 2001;17:25-32.