Update on pharmacotherapy guidelines for treatment of neuropathic pain

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2007 Jun;11(3):208-14. doi: 10.1007/s11916-007-0192-6.

Abstract

Neuropathic pain encompasses a myriad of painful disease states that are often hard to treat, especially with one single medication. In the comprehensive treatment of neuropathic pain, the concept of complex polypharmacy is a rational approach, accompanied by physical and mental health therapies. Medications primarily used for neuropathic pain generally fall into the categories of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, opioids, and topical agents. Generally, most first-line medications used today show a response rate of approximately 30% to 50% reduction in pain in up to 50% of patients treated. There is no "gold standard" in regard to one medication for neuropathic pain. Some new medications have emerged during the past few years that help to augment the armamentarium of medications used in neuropathic pain. This paper reviews the definition of neuropathic pain and introduces the reader to the evidence-based literature on these new medications available for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Cannabidiol / therapeutic use
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dronabinol / therapeutic use
  • Duloxetine Hydrochloride
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Humans
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / etiology*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Pregabalin
  • Thiophenes / therapeutic use
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Thiophenes
  • Cannabidiol
  • Pregabalin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Dronabinol
  • Duloxetine Hydrochloride