JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

The evolving role of antiepileptic drugs in treating neuropathic pain.

For many years, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were used as initial therapy for the pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain. First-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are also used for the treatment of pain, and two drugs in this group, carbamazepine and sodium valproate, have received FDA approval for trigeminal neuralgia and migraine headache, respectively. Although TCAs are associated with side effects that limit their usefulness, particularly in the elderly or in patients with multiple medical problems, comparative meta-analyses show their tolerability to be greater than that of the first-generation AEDs. Recently, newer AEDs with more favorable side-effect profiles have been tested in placebo-controlled clinical trials for the treatment of neuropathic pain, including painful diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. The results of these trials, together with advances in understanding the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain, provide the basis for reevaluating some of the commonly accepted paradigms that guide approaches to treatment.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app