Drug therapy of trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome of still unestablished origin. Its diagnosis depends on clinical grounds. Drug therapy initially helps a great majority of patients. The choice of drugs is quite large, but truly effective compounds with a tolerable side effect profile remain few. Carbamazepine (or oxcarbazepine) and lamotrigine appear to be the most effective, followed by baclofen. Several patients require further nonpharmacological treatment for which no evidence-based recommendation is possible. In the future, neuromodulation may be brought to bear, as in other chronic pain syndromes.
Canavero
Sergio
S
Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, Cso Einaudi 2 10128, Turin, Italy. solara@infinito.it
Bonicalzi
Vincenzo
V
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy