Relief of diabetic neuropathy with fluoxetine

A 31-year-old woman with advanced diabetes mellitus with secondary autonomic and peripheral neuropathy was admitted for treatment of major depression. Previous therapy with desipramine resulted in exacerbation of the patient's orthostatic hypotension. After admission to the psychiatric facility she was initially stabilized medically and treated with psychotherapy. Subsequent treatment with low-dose fluoxetine 5 mg resulted in a decrease of the patient's diabetic neuropathy pain. Further increases in the fluoxetine dosage resulted in improvement of her depression and increased pain relief. Therapy with fluoxetine did not result in exacerbation of the orthostatic hypotension. This preliminary case report indicates that fluoxetine may be an alternative to the tricyclic antidepressants and trazodone in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.