Which pill works better for chronic pain? study pits two drugs Head-to-Head
NCT ID NCT03548454
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compared two antidepressant medications, duloxetine and desipramine, to see which one reduces pain better in people with chronic pain. About 86 adults with pain lasting more than 3 months took one of the two drugs for six months. The main goal was to see how many people had at least a 30% drop in pain intensity.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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86 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2018
- Finished
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Jun 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria: 1. Age of 18 years old or above 2. Persistent pain for more than 3 months 3. Candidate for treatment by anti-depressant based on treating pain provider Exclusion criteria: 1. Prior failure of duloxetine and/or desipramine (patients who have failed other TCAs or SNRIs can be considered for the trial based on the reason for previous medication failure) 2. Contraindication to taking duloxetine or desipramine 3. Patient refusal
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Stanford Pain Management Center
Redwood City, California, 94063, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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