Effects of the glial modulator palmitoylethanolamide on chronic pain intensity and brain function
Open-label, no control groupHumans
- Design
- Open-label, no control group
- Subjects
- 22 adults with chronic nerve-related facial pain, in Australia
- Dose used in the study
- 300 mg capsules, at an individual dose of 600 to 900 mg three times a day
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- What was measured
- Pain intensity on a visual analogue scale, and slow oscillating activity in the brain's facial pain pathway on MRI
What the authors reported
The authors reported that pain fell in 16 of the 22 participants, and by more than 20% in 11. In those 11, pain fell by an average of 62%. In the others it rose by an average of 20%. Brain oscillation activity fell in one part of the pain pathway in both groups, and in the thalamus only in those whose pain improved. No side effects were reported.
Limits of this study
A phase 1 open-label trial with no placebo, which the authors name as a limit. Half of the participants did not reach a 20% fall in pain. The doses were higher than in most trials. It was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and a memorial fund, and the authors declared no conflicts.
Source
Entry checked against the full text at the publisher (Dove Medical Press) on 2026-09-21. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.