Evaluation of Topiramate Efficacy on Neuropathic Pain in Patients With Diabetic Polyneuropathy

Polyneuropathy is one of the most common and disabling complications of diabetes. severe pain is one of the complications of diabetic polyneuropathy .over the years, many drugs for the treatment of the pain in diabetic neuropathy have been tried. however, no one is completely effective. in a single-blind clinical trial, 200 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy were studied over 12 weeks. in the intervention group, 100 patients were treated with 100 milligrams of topiramate per day and 100 patients in the control group treated with 90 milligrams of gabapentin per day. pain intensity recorded with visual analogue scale between 0 to 100 millimeter over twelve weeks. reduction in pain intensity of ≥30 mm was considered as effective response. the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of topiramate in the treatment of pain in diabetic polyneuropathy. the mean reduction in pain intensity over twelve weeks in topiramate groups were 33.83±12.17 and in gabapentin group were 30.25±15.66. the relative improvement in the topiramate group was 89.17%, and in the gabapentin group was 71.25%, respectively. there was a reduction in the mean pain score in both groups, although no statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed. both of topiramate and gabapentin were effective on reduction of pain in diabetic polyneuropathy. we can use both of them separately or in combination with each other or other drugs.