The purpose of this study is to determine whether different types of antidepressant medicines relieve back pain that has lasted at least six months on a daily basis. Study participants will be assigned to treatment with either a antidepressant acting on the serotonin system in the brain (fluoxetine), one acting on the noradrenaline system (desipramine, or to a control medication not expected to relieve pain (benztropine). Each participant will be seen at least nine times during their 12 weeks on medication. This is a phase 2/3, outpatient study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
130
Low exposure (40-70 ng/mL), Middle exposure (70-130 ng/mL), High exposure (130-200 ng/mL)
Low exposure (200-399 ng/mL), Middle exposure (400-499 ng/mL), High exposure (500-700ng/mL)
Daily dose 0.125 to 0.5mg
VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego
San Diego, California, United States
Descriptor Differential Scale Pain Intensity
Time frame: 12 weeks post baseline
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