Diabetic neuropathy is among the most common chronic complications affecting adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of >50%. The most prevalent form of this condition is diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) (1,2). Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is characterized by pain resulting from damage to the peripheral somatosensory system caused by diabetes (3).
Current treatments for PDPN have limited efficacy and are often associated with significant adverse effects. These treatments include tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., duloxetine and venlafaxine), and gabapentinoids (e.g., pregabalin and gabapentin). Other treatments are lidocaine patches and topical capsaicin, including the capsaicin 8% topical system (3).
Major guidelines in the United States, such as those from the American Academy of Neurology (4) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) (5), recommend the above-mentioned agents as...
