Randomized Control Trial of Gabapentin and Carbamazepine in the Treatment of Primary Trigeminal Neuralgia

Objective:To study the efficacy and safety of Gabapentin and Carbamazepine in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia.Methods:Ninety one patients with PTN were double blindly controlled trial and randomly allocated into two groups,group A(gabapentin,n=46) and group B(carbamazepine n=45).The quantification of severity of pain was done using visual analogue scale(VAS) at the beginning of the study and after 1 week,2 weeks,and 4 weeks.Adverse reactions were also observed.Detailed biochemical investigations,including routine blood and urine examination,liver and renal function tests were done at the beginning and at the end of the study.Results:After 4 weeks treatment with gabapentin and Carbamazepine,there was significant reduction in pain in two groups compared with that of before treatment.1,2,4,weeks of post-therapy,VAS in the two groups showed not significantly differentce from each other(P0.05) and there was no significant difference of improvement between these two groups(P0.05).The ratio of adverse reaction in gabapentin group(30.43%) was significant lower than that in Carbamazepine group(60.87%)(P0.01).Conclusion:Gabapentin and Carbamazepine provided significant pain relief in patients of PTN.The security of gabapentin was better than that of Carbamazepine.