Intravenous infusion of fosphenytoin produces prolonged pain relief: a case report.
The objective of this case report is to emphasize the analgesic effect of antiepileptic drugs in those with neuropathic pain, confirm that fosphenytoin possesses these analgesic properties, and to highlight that intravenous administration of fosphenytoin for 24 hours can produce good quality pain relief that lasts for many weeks. A 37-year-old woman with a neuroma (caused by surgical intervention for an endometrial sarcoma) producing neuropathic pain unresponsive to opiates was successfully treated with intravenous infusion of 1,500 phenytoin equivalent units fosphenytoin for 24 hours. The pain relief after this and subsequent infusions persisted for between 3 and 14 weeks and was associated with a reduced opiate requirement and an increase in activities of daily living. Fosphenytoin infusion can give good quality pain relief in the patient with neuropathic pain.
McCleane
Gary J
GJ
Rampark Pain Centre, Lurgan, Northern Ireland, UK. gary@mccleane.freeserve.co.uk