Peptides for Neuropathic Pain & Nerve Damage

Neuropathic pain — caused by damage or dysfunction of the nervous system itself — affects approximately 7-8% of the UK population. Unlike inflammatory pain that responds well to NSAIDs, neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to treat, with conditions like diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and small fibre neuropathy often resistant to conventional analgesics.

Current NHS treatments include gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, and amitriptyline (per NICE CG173), but these achieve adequate relief in only 30-50% of patients and carry significant side effect profiles. This treatment gap has driven interest in novel approaches including peptide-based therapies.

Peptide research for neuropathic pain focuses on neurotrophic peptides that may promote nerve repair, anti-inflammatory peptides that address neuroinflammation, and neuromodulatory peptides that alter pain signal processing.

All information is educational. Neuropathic pain requires specialist assessment and management per NICE CG173.