A randomised controlled trial comparing duloxetine and acetyl L-carnitine in fibromyalgic patients: preliminary data
Leombruni P
Published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
Methodology
Randomised controlled trial in 65 female outpatients with rheumatologist-diagnosed fibromyalgia recruited January 2011 to May 2012; duloxetine 60 mg/day versus acetyl L-carnitine 1500 mg/day (500 mg three times daily); efficacy and side effects assessed by the same psychiatrist at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks.
Key Findings
65 women with fibromyalgia were randomised to duloxetine 60 mg/day or acetyl L-carnitine 1500 mg/day and assessed by the same psychiatrist at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Both treatments produced general clinical improvement with positive effects on pain and depressive symptoms, and neither significantly improved anxiety. Both improved the physical component of quality of life, but only duloxetine improved the psychological component. The authors describe the data as preliminary and needing confirmation.
Conclusions
These preliminary findings confirm the efficacy of duloxetine, and suggest that acetyl L-carnitine is also efficacious in improving depressive symptoms, pain, and the quality of life of FMS patients.
Limitations
Preliminary open comparison of two active treatments in 65 women with no placebo arm and no blinding described, so the shared improvement could reflect expectation or natural fluctuation; single centre and only 12 weeks long.
Supplements Studied
These preliminary findings suggest that acetyl L-carnitine is efficacious in improving depressive symptoms, pain, and the quality of life of FMS patients.
These preliminary findings suggest that acetyl L-carnitine is efficacious in improving depressive symptoms, pain, and the quality of life of FMS patients.
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Study Details
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