The research status of mexiletine used in neuropathic pain

Background Neuropathic pain is an intractable chronic pain. Due to it's complicated generation mechanism,kinds of therapy differ from one another. But there's no one effective way that suit all kinds of neuropathic pain. Objective To summarize the research status of mexiletine used in the management of neuropathic pain. Content Mexiletine, a sodium channel blocker, could effectively block abnormal sodium channel currents flow, shorten these channels' open duration, cut down the excitability of the neuraxons, thus releasing pain. Investigations in neuropathic pain treatment with mexiletine, including animal experiments and clinical researches, have gradually increased day by day. It is reported that some types of neuropathic pain,especially patients with painful peripheral neuropathy, e.g. chronic diabetic neuropathy, peripheral nerve injury, post-herpes or post-chemotherapy neuropathic pain, could be obviously relieved by mexiletine, with little side effccts and great security. Trend Mexiletine has some curative effect while treating neuropathic pain. There should be more focus on it's different blockage roles in various sodium channels, which may provide some new thoughts to treat various neuropathic pain. Key words: Neuropathic pain;  Mexiletine;  Sodium channel