Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, dose‐limiting side effect of many chemotherapeutic agents. Although many therapies have been investigated for the prevention and/or treatment of CIPN, there is no well‐accepted proven therapy. In addition, there is no universally accepted, well‐validated measure for the assessment of CIPN. The agents for which there are the strongest preliminary data regarding their potential efficacy in preventing CIPN are intravenous calcium and magnesium (Ca/Mg) infusions and glutathione. Agents with the strongest supporting evidence for efficacy in the treatment of CIPN include topical pain relievers, such as baclofen/amitriptyline/ketamine gel, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as venlafaxine and duloxetine. Other promising therapies are also reviewed in this paper. Cutaneous electrostimulation is a nonpharmacological therapy that appears, from an early pilot trial, to be potentially effective in the treatment of CIPN. Finally, there is a lack of evidence of effective treatments for the paclitaxel acute pain syndrome (P‐APS), which appears to be caused by neurologic injury.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2011) 90 3, 377–387. doi:10.1038/clpt.2011.115