The nurse is seeing a client diagnosed with neuropathic pain secondary to type 2 diabetes and chronically low mood. The client tells the nurse in a visit about being told to consider taking a psychiatric medication. Which medication was most likely suggested for this client?

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Severe or chronic pain may affect mentally healthy people in adverse ways. The prevalence and impact of pain have led to numerous therapeutic approaches, including the use of antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, antianxiety agents, and stimulants. Considerable evidence suggests that these psychiatric medications and interventions can also be effective in treating both acute and chronic pain. In this scenario, the health care provider would most likely recommend duloxetine as it is an SNRI, a class of antidepressants that have been found effective in the treatment of various chronic pain syndromes. Due to the greater likelihood of adverse side effects and medication interactions, the health care provider would be less likely to recommend phenelzine (an MAO inhibitor) or desipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant). Although antipsychotics have been shown effective in the treatment of chronic pain, risperidone is one that can cause metabolic syndrome, therefore it would not be an ideal medication for a client with type 2 diabetes.

The Nurse Is Seeing a Client Diagnosed with Neuropathic Pain