Therapeutic effect of opioid analgesics combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on peripheral neuropathy and its influence on inflammatory factors

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of opioid analgesics combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on peripheral neuropathy and inflammatory factors. Methods: Clinical data of 60 patients with peripheral neuropathy were collected and studied retrospectively. The patients were divided into Group A (30 cases, treated with tramadol combined with ibuprofen) and Group B (30 cases, treated with tramadol alone). The visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores were recorded before and 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after taking the medicine. The adverse reactions of nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal disorder, dizziness, rash and lethargy were recorded within 21 days after taking the medicine. Blood samples were obtained from patients before and 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after taking medicine to detect the inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. Results: VAS and NRS scores of patients in Group A were significantly lower than those of patients in Group B after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in VAS and NRS scores between the two groups after 3 days of treatment (all P>0.05). The incidence of gastrointestinal disturbance in Group A was significantly higher than that in Group B (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha between the two groups 3 days after treatment (all P>0.05), but after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment, the levels of IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in Group A were significantly lower than those in Group B (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Opioid analgesics combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is better than opioid analgesics alone in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, and brings no more adverse reactions except gastrointestinal disorders, so the combined treatment can be further promoted for clinical use.