title: Treating pain in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating, central nervous system disease that frequently causes pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the current literature and describes the therapeutic options for treating MS-related pain. The reader will be provided with current, evidence-based knowledge about the treatment of MS-related pain, and the review will take a practical approach to the various drugs for treating pain, including starting dose, titration and side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only cannabinoids have been assessed in randomized, controlled trials. Because of the concern regarding the risk of abuse and psychiatric adverse events, published guidelines as well as expert recommendations suggest using them as second-line therapy only. Hence, current treatment should be based on the general principles for treating peripheral neuropathic pain, taking into account drug-induced adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome-La Sapienza, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Viale Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. cruccu@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galeotti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cruccu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology