Lacosamide for pain.
BACKGROUND
Neuropathic pain remains a condition that is difficult to treat and with which therapeutic failure is not uncommon. The need for new and effective drugs to treat neuropathic pain remains strong.


METHODS
The available preclinical and clinical data for the pain relieving effect of lacosamide have been examined using the papers published and referenced on Medline between 1990 and present.


RESULTS
It is hoped that readers will gain an insight into the use of this novel analgesic agent in human clinical pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The data relating to the pain relieving effect of lacosamide are sparse. The majority of the published human data relate to the use of lacosamide for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy where the extent of pain relief produced has not been deemed sufficient to warrant an application for a product license for this indication. That said, it is suggested that there remains merit in further investigation of this drug for other neuropathic pain conditions.
McCleane
Gary
G
Rampark Pain Centre, 2 Rampark, Lurgan, N. Ireland, BT66 7HR, UK. gary@mccleane.freeserve.co.uk
D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000078334:Lacosamide; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats
D000081:Acetamides; D000700:Analgesics; D000078334:Lacosamide