Diabetics, whether they suffer from type 1 or type 2 diabetes, can experience nerve damage without sufficient control of blood glucose levels. Insulin and other drugs can work to help control these levels, but when they are off---specifically when sugar levels are too high---nerve damage, called neuropathy, can develop. There are some treatments to prevent or slow neuropathy and medications to help ease the pain of it.
Blood Pressure
Medications to help control blood pressure can help to prevent progression of neuropathy. This is only one part of the process that includes limiting alcohol intake, taking care of your feet---where neuropathy happens most frequently---smoking cessation, eating healthy, maintaining a target weight and being physically active. Drugs to control high blood pressure include thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, renin inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), calcium channel blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers. Thiazide diuretics include Diuril (generic: chlorothiazide), Zaroxolyn (generic: metolazone) and hydrochlorothiazide. Beta blockers include Inderal LA (generic: propranolol), Sectral (generic: acebutolol) and Lopressor or Toprol XL (generic: metoprolol) among others. ACE inhibitors include Mavik (generic: trandolapril), Lotensin (generic: benazepril), Zestril or Prinivil (generic: lisinopril) and Aceon (generic: perindopril) among others. Calcium channel blockers include Sular (generic: nisoldipine), Norvasc (generic: amlodipine), Plendil (generic: felodipine) and others. Angiotensin II receptor blockers include Benicar (generic: olmesartan), Atacand (generic: candesartan), Cozaar (generic: losartan) and others.
Anti-Seizure Drugs
While anti-seizure medicines were designed for epileptic fits, they also may be prescribed for neuropathy. These drugs include Tegretol (generic: carbamazepine), Neurontin (generic: gabapentin) and Lyrica (generic: pregabalin). Side effects from Tegretol include pain in the joints, breathing difficulty, nosebleeds, blurry vision, confusion, hostility and diarrhea among others. Side effects from Neurontin include anxiety, clumsiness, hyperactivity, chills, chest pain, memory loss, suspicion and depression. Lyrica side effects include weight gain, neuropathy, euphoria and confusion.
Antidepressants
Several types of antidepressants may help ease neuropathy pain. These include tricyclics such as Tofranil (generic: imipramine), Pamelor (generic: nortriptyline) and Norpramin (generic: desipramine); and SSRIs (selective serontonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac (generic: fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine). Side effects from tricyclics include abdominal pain, convulsions, anxiety, agitation, depression and coma. Side effects from SSRIs include restlessness, headaches, lethargy, drowsiness, confusion and seizures.
Lidocaine
Lidocaine is an anesthetic often used for minor surgery or surface or muscular pain relief. It is available as a transdermal patch that can be applied to the area affected by neuropathy such as the feet. According to the Mayo Clinic, it has few side effects but may cause a rash to form in the application area.
Opiates
Because opiates are addictive, they generally aren't used for long-term treatment of any kind of pain. Yet, some may be used for short-term pain relief. These include OxyContin (generic: oxycodone) or codeine. Along with the serious side effect of addiction, RxList.com says OxyContin is equivalent to morphine in its addictive possibilities---other side effects include sweating, constipation, headaches, nausea, dizziness and vomiting.
