Can patients with chronic neuropathic pain be cured by acute administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist amantadine?
The treatment of neuropathic pain remains a challenge as it rarely leads to long-term relief of symptoms. We report three patients with chronic neuropathic pain, in whom acute administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist amantadine resulted in complete resolution of symptoms, presumably due to termination the central 'wind-up' phenomenon.
Eisenberg
E
E
Pain Relief Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa.
Pud
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000547:Amantadine