title: Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.
abstract: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) remains one of the most troublesome common chronic neuropathic pain conditions. Many controlled trials have been published showing good efficacy and reasonable tolerability. These include gabapentinoids, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, and topical lidocaine and capsaicin. Combination therapies are possible, but have not been proven, and long-term follow-up is limited. Only few case series exist for surgical and other invasive therapies and their role remains uncertain.
authors.affiliation: Pain Research Institute, Division of Neurological Science, School of Clinical Science, University of Liverpool, Lower Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL, United Kingdom. tjn@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nurmikko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haanpää
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists