Preliminary results from a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial of intrathecal oxytocin for neuropathic pain.

Eisenach JC, Curry RS, Houle TT

Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)1 Sept 2023Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID37084261PMCIDPMC10472486DOI10.1093/pm/pnad051PepBankPUB-37084261

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with neuropathic pain, intrathecal oxytocin lowered modeled pain intensity more than placebo in the first 4 hours.
In plain wordsIn adults with long-term nerve pain, oxytocin injected into the spinal fluid lowered pain more than placebo over 4 hours.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseNeuropathic pain intensity (VAS) in first 4 hours
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Placebo (saline)
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
100 µg · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
pain intensity at baseline
4.75 VAS
before injection
modeled pain intensity
1.61 VAS
oxytocin
modeled pain intensity
2.49 VAS
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Pain intensity prior to injection was 4.75 ± 0.99 and modeled pain intensity decreased more after oxytocin than placebo to 1.61 ± 0.87 and 2.49 ± 0.87, respectively (P = .003).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Individuals aged 18 to 70 years with neuropathic pain for at least 6 months.
Summary · context
Individuals received intrathecal injections of oxytocin and saline, separated by at least 7 days, and ongoing pain in neuropathic area (VAS [visual analog scale]) and areas of hypersensitivity to von Frey filament and cotton wisp brushing were measured for 4 hours.
Report a problemFND-3708426101
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with neuropathic pain, daily pain scores in the week after intrathecal injection were lower with oxytocin than with saline.
In plain wordsIn adults with long-term nerve pain, daily pain scores in the week after injection were lower with oxytocin than with saline.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseDaily pain scores over 7 days
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Placebo (saline)
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
100 µg · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
daily pain score
2.53 score
oxytocin
daily pain score
3.66 score
saline
Source sentences
Summary
Daily pain scores were lower in the week following injection of oxytocin than saline (2.53 ± 0.89 vs 3.66 ± 0.89; P = .001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Individuals aged 18 to 70 years with neuropathic pain for at least 6 months.
Summary · context
Individuals received intrathecal injections of oxytocin and saline, separated by at least 7 days, and ongoing pain in neuropathic area (VAS [visual analog scale]) and areas of hypersensitivity to von Frey filament and cotton wisp brushing were measured for 4 hours.
Report a problemFND-3708426102
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with neuropathic pain, the area of allodynia decreased by 11% after intrathecal oxytocin compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with long-term nerve pain, the skin area painful to light touch shrank by 11% after oxytocin compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseAllodynic area
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Placebo (saline)
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
100 µg · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
allodynic area change
−11%
oxytocin vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Allodynic area decreased by 11%, but hyperalgesic area increased by 18% after oxytocin compared to placebo
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Individuals aged 18 to 70 years with neuropathic pain for at least 6 months.
Summary · context
Individuals received intrathecal injections of oxytocin and saline, separated by at least 7 days, and ongoing pain in neuropathic area (VAS [visual analog scale]) and areas of hypersensitivity to von Frey filament and cotton wisp brushing were measured for 4 hours.
Report a problemFND-3708426103
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with neuropathic pain, the area of hyperalgesia increased by 18% after intrathecal oxytocin compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with long-term nerve pain, the skin area with heightened pain sensitivity grew by 18% after oxytocin compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseHyperalgesic area
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Placebo (saline)
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
100 µg · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
hyperalgesic area change
18%
oxytocin vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Allodynic area decreased by 11%, but hyperalgesic area increased by 18% after oxytocin compared to placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Individuals aged 18 to 70 years with neuropathic pain for at least 6 months.
Summary · context
Individuals received intrathecal injections of oxytocin and saline, separated by at least 7 days, and ongoing pain in neuropathic area (VAS [visual analog scale]) and areas of hypersensitivity to von Frey filament and cotton wisp brushing were measured for 4 hours.
Report a problemFND-3708426104
05HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In adults with neuropathic pain, no study-drug-related adverse effects were reported after intrathecal oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn adults with long-term nerve pain, no side effects related to the study drug were reported with oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeStudy drug related adverse effects
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Placebo (saline)
Outcome group
Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
100 µg · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
There were no study drug related adverse effects.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Individuals aged 18 to 70 years with neuropathic pain for at least 6 months.
Summary · context
Individuals received intrathecal injections of oxytocin and saline, separated by at least 7 days, and ongoing pain in neuropathic area (VAS [visual analog scale]) and areas of hypersensitivity to von Frey filament and cotton wisp brushing were measured for 4 hours.
Report a problemFND-3708426105

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 stopped early · 1 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

TerminatedPhase 2Results postedNCT02100956

Efficacy of Intrathecal Oxytocin in Patients With Neuropathic Pain

Wake Forest University Health Sciencesn = 819 Jun 2014 to 10 Oct 2022

Neuropathic Pain

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 3 Oct 2023

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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