Imipramine treatment in diabetic neuropathy: relief of subjective symptoms without changes in peripheral and autonomic nerve function

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of imipramine on symptomatic peripheral diabetic neuropathy in 9 patients was examined in a double-blind cross-over study against placebo. The dose of imipramine was adjusted to yield optimal plasma levels of imipramine plus desipramine of 300–750 nM. Imipramine had a clear benificial effect on the symptoms of the neuropathy, whereas no changes in a range of neurophysiological measurements was detected. Despite some adverse effects, especially of an anticholinergic nature, the patients generally preferred imipramine to placebo.