[Analgesic effect of dextromethorphan for postherpetic neuralgia].
We investigated the analgesic effect of dextromethorphan (DM), a non-selective NMDA receptor antagonist, in 25 patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). We administered DM 45mg.day-1 orally for 14 days and then 90mg.day-1 for next 14 days. Decrease in pain intensity and alleviation of allodynia were observed in 9 patients (36%). Side effects with no severe cases occurred in 8 patients (32%) and these were mainly digestive symptoms. We concluded that DM might be useful to treat PHN with allodynia probably due to central sensitization.
Suzuki
T
T
Department of Anesthesiology, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Tokyo.
Kato
J
J
Saeki
S
S
Ogawa
S
S
Suzuki
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000700:Analgesics; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D003915:Dextromethorphan