A retrospective trial was carried to investigate the tolerability and efficacy of oral low-dose naltrexone in individuals suffering from refractory neuropathic corneal pain.
Low-dose naltrexone can be
used to treat neuropathic corneal pain
as it has good tolerability and efficacy.
A retrospective trial was carried
to investigate the tolerability and efficacy of oral low-dose naltrexone in
individuals suffering from refractory neuropathic corneal pain.
In total, 59 neuropathic corneal
pain subjects having a centralized component treated with low-dose (4.5 mg)
naltrexone at bedtime for at least 4 weeks were recognized. Notably, 30/59
participants who had a baseline pain score ≥4 on the visual analogue scale had
completed the ocular pain assessment survey and witnessed constant pain,
despite topical anesthetic drops instillation. Alteration in pain scores,
comorbidities, adverse effects, among others, were assessed. Alteration in the
quality of life scores (scale 0-100%) and the ocular pain scores (scale 0-10)
were the primary outcomes.
The duration of neuropathic corneal pain prior to therapy was 17.53 ± 17.29 months and the duration of low-dose naltrexone usage was 14.87 ± 11.25 months. In total, eight participants utilized low-dose naltrexone as a monotherapy, and the remaining participants utilized it as an adjunct treatment.
Low-dose naltrexone led to a 49.22%
decline in the mean pain score from 6.13 ± 1.93 to 3.23 ± 2.60. The mean
quality of life scores by the ocular pain evaluation survey was 5.84 ± 2.57 at
the initial visit and improved to 3.77 ± 2.91 at the last visit. Headaches,
vivid dreams, and stomachaches were the common adverse effects.
Low-dose naltrexone has good
tolerability and is effective to modulate symptoms in individuals having
neuropathic corneal pain.
The Ocular Surface
Low-dose naltrexone is effective and well-tolerated for modulating symptoms in patients with neuropathic corneal pain
Gabriela Dieckmann et al.
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