title: Prescription pattern of oral healthcare professionals in the use of anticonvulsants for trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the current prescription pattern of oral healthcare professionals in the management of patients with trigeminal neuralgia at a local hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data relating to a consecutive series of patients (n = 49) with typical trigeminal neuralgia was collected over a period of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half the subjects (70%) were using carbamazepine as the only form of medical therapy. Gabapentin was used in 20% of the subjects. A combination therapy or Topiramate was used in few of the patients in the study group (7.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carbamazepine is still the main drug of choice in the management of trigeminal neuralgia. New anti-epileptic drugs have broadened the therapeutic options in those who cannot tolerate conventional carbamazepine therapy or surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Ng Chee
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.forename: Yeo Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Fei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D000077236:Topiramate; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin