Could an antidepressant ease stubborn back pain?

NCT ID NCT05851976

First seen Dec 02, 2025 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 25 times

Summary

This study tests whether duloxetine, a medication often used for depression, can reduce low back pain in people who didn't get better with NSAIDs like naproxen. About 120 adults from the emergency department will take either duloxetine or a placebo for two weeks. The goal is to see if duloxetine helps prevent ongoing pain three months later.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Montefiore Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Duloxetine

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a new option for people with low back pain who don't get relief from common anti-inflammatory drugs.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase exploratory study, so results may not apply widely. Duloxetine can cause side effects like nausea or dizziness, and it may not help everyone.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Low Back Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.