Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Jun 2008)
THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF AMITRIPTYLINE IN MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic low back pain because of common prevalence and economic burden is one of the important health and social problems of societies. There are different drugs and non drug treatment in approach to management of low back pain. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of amitriptyline in management of low back pain.METHODS: This clinical trial study was performed on low back pain patients who referred to a neurology clinic during 2 years. The patients divided into two groups, group 1 (n=125) received amitriptyline (25ml daily) and group 2 (n=114) as control didn’t receive this drug. Other drug and non drug treatment were same in two groups. Efficacy of amitriptyline was compared in group that received this drug with a group that didn’t receive it. Data was gathered by a questionnaire including variables such as age, sex, job, duration of low back pain, underlying disease, relieve criterions (symptom relief, decrease of pain, to be able to do daily and occupational activities) and then compared.FINDINGS: Mean age in two groups was same with no significant difference between them and there were no difference between male and female. One hundred and four cases (83.2%) from 125 patients who received amitriptyline had relieved and 83 cases (72.8%) of 114 patients who didn’t receive this drug had relieved (p=0.052).CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, amitriptyline has therapeutic effect in management of chronic low back pain and it is recommended to consider amitriptyline in management of chronic low back pain.
