Diabetic Nerve Pain Medication

Diabetic Nerve Pain Medication

Diabetic nerve pain is a common side effect of diabetes and can cause intense discomfort, loss of sensation in your feet, and eventually lead to amputations or ulcers. Fortunately, lifestyle changes, proper blood sugar control, and medications can help alleviate symptoms.

Controlling your blood sugar levels is the most important thing you can do for both diabetes and nerve health. Doing this helps avoid or delay nerve damage.

Your healthcare provider may perform a number of tests to diagnose diabetic neuropathy. These include nerve conduction studies (also called nerve scans) and sensory testing, which uses a soft nylon fiber to touch your skin and measure how sensitive you are to different stimuli.

Anticonvulsant medicines are frequently prescribed to treat diabetic neuropathy. These drugs block the chemicals in your brain responsible for feeling pain. Examples include amitriptyline (Elavil) and desipramine (Norpramin).

Tricyclic antidepressants can also be used to relieve nerve pain. These drugs interfere with serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain.

Venlafaxine (Effexor) is another medication that may be used to relieve nerve pain. While it has not been extensively researched for this purpose as duloxetine and pregabalin have, some people use it in conjunction with their diabetic neuropathy.

Tapentadol ER is an opioid medication approved by the FDA to manage pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. You can purchase it either over-the-counter or with a prescription from your healthcare provider.