Pharmacologic Management Part 1: Better-Studied Neuropathic Pain Diseases

Neuropathic pain impacts millions of people in the United States and around the world. Patients experience one of many symptoms, such as pain, paresthesia, dysesthesia, hyperalgesia, and allodynia, for many years because of unavailable or inadequate treatment. One of the major challenges in treating patients with neuropathic pain syndromes is a lack of consensus concerning the appropriate first-line treatment options for conditions associated with neuropathic pain, including postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and trigeminal neuralgia. This review summarizes the published results of randomized trials involving treatment for neuropathic pain conditions. Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine, and tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline and desipramine, have demonstrated efficacy in relieving pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and trigeminal neuralgia, in several studies. However, the lack of head-to-head comparison studies of these agents limits the conclusions that can be reached. Clinicians who must make decisions regarding the care of individual patients may find some guidance from the number of randomized trials with a positive outcome for each agent. Using quality-of-life study outcomes, treatment strategies must encompass the impact of therapeutic agents on the comorbid conditions of sleep disturbance and mood and anxiety disorders associated with neuropathic pain. Looking to the future, emerging therapies, such as pregabalin and newer N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor blockers, may provide physicians and patients with new treatment options for more effective relief of pain.