Gabapentinoids-Duloxetine Combination Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Mechanisms Oriented Rational to Bridge Theoretical Knowledge and Real Life Setting

Chronic pain represents a complex debilitating condition that extends beyond the protective function of physiological pain, often persisting as an independent disease entity. Chronic primary and secondary pain syndromes reflect a multifaceted continuum involving nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic mechanisms. The maladaptive plasticity of the peripheral and central nervous system (encompassing the ascending and descending pain pathways) sustains hypersensitivity and correlates with comorbid alterations in mood, cognition, sleep, and fatigue, underpinned by functional reorganization of brain networks. In this scenario traditional analgesics frequently demonstrate limited efficacy, while current guidelines recommend antiepileptic agents and antidepressants, particularly gabapentinoids and duloxetine, a first line pharmacological options. This review explores the mechanistic rationale and clinical evidence supporting the combined use of gabapentinoids and duloxetine in chronic pain management. These agents act on distinct yet complementary targets: gabapentinoids reduce excitatory neurotransmission via modulation of calcium channel activity, while duloxetine restores descending noradrenergic inhibition and alleviates comorbid symptoms. Clinical trial and meta-analyses highlight their individual efficacy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and fibromyalgia. Among gabapentinoids, pregabalin exhibits a favorable pharmacokinetic profile that allows rapid titration and demonstrates effectiveness against anxiety-related sleep disorders. Importantly, emerging evidence suggests that their combination may yield superior pain relief and functional improvement compared with monotherapy, particularly in patients with residual pain. This review provides a proof of concept by bridging theoretical knowledge and real-life clinical settings aiming to develop treatment protocols based on predominant pain mechanisms that can effectively control hypersensitivity and improve quality of life.