USO DA DULOXETINA EM COMPARAÇÃO A PREGABALINA NO TRATAMENTO DA DOR NEUROPÁTICA

Introduction: Neuropathic pain is a challenging clinical condition that significantly impairs patients' quality of life due to a variety of causes, including injuries and diseases affecting the nervous system. With a prevalence of approximately 10% in the general population, this pain presents a complex therapeutic management, often requiring the combined use of several classes of medications, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Objective: To synthesize and compare the main results of the use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Methodology: Systematic review of the literature, using randomized clinical studies published in the last 20 years and available in databases such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine (PubMed), ZB MED Search Portal for Life Sciences (LIVIVO), Virtual Health Library (BVS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) and Open Index of Scholarly Works (OpenAlex), using the Health Sciences Descriptors in English “Antidepressive Agents”; “Anticonvulsants” and “Neuropathic Pain” and the term “Neuropathic Pain”, which was not available in the DeCS. Based on the eligibility criteria, randomized clinical trials in English, Portuguese and Spanish from the last 20 years were chosen, with the final sample consisting of eleven articles. Results: Pregabalin was superior in patients with complaints of sexual dysfunction, and improved sleep quality and physical function. Duloxetine was well-regarded for relieving severe pain in individuals with depression and anxiety. The combination of drugs allowed for lower doses, resulting in fewer side effects. Conclusion: Both drugs are effective in controlling neuropathic pain, but choosing between duloxetine and pregabalin requires a personalized approach, considering the individual characteristics of each patient to optimize clinical results. Keywords: Antidepressants; Anticonvulsant; Neuralgia.