Nortriptyline for pain in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomised controlled trial in New Zealand general practice

Background Osteoarthntis KAI of the knee is a common cause of chronic pain. Analgesia that are currently available have limited efficacy and may be poorly tolerated. Tricyclic antidepressants are used as analgesics for other chronic conditions, but they have not been evaluated as analgesics in OA. Aim To investigate the analgesic efficacy of nortriptyline in people with knee OA. Design and setting A two-arm, parallel-group. 1:1, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in Christchurch, New Zealand. Method Participants were recruited from orthopaedic outpatient clinics, primary care, and through public advertising. Adults with knee OA and a pain score of >= 20 points on the 50-point Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC] pain subscale were randomised to receive either nortriptyline or identical placebo for 14 weeks. The primary outcome was knee pain at 14 weeks measured using the WOMAC pain subscale. Secondary outcomes included: function; stiffness; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, opioid, and/or paracetamol use; each participants global assessment; and adverse effects at 14 weeks. Results Of the 205 randomised participants, 201 (98.0%) completed follow-up at 14 weeks. The baseline-adjusted mean WOMAC pain subscale score at week 14 was 6.2 points lower (95% confidence interval = -0.26 to 12.6, P= 0.06) in the nortriptyline arm versus the placebo arm. Differences in secondary outcomes generally favoured the nortriptyline arm, but were small arid unlikely to be clinically relevant. However . the following were all more commonly reported by participants taking noririptyline than those taking a placebo: dry mouth [86.9% versus 51.0%, respectively, P<0.001), constipation (58.6% versus 30.4%, respectively. P<0.001], and sweating (31.3% versus 20.6%. respectively. P= 0.033). Conclusion This study suggests nortriptyline does not significantly reduce pain in people with knee OA The adverse effect profile was as expected.