Articles: neuralgia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A new topical treatment for acute herpetic neuralgia and post-herpetic neuralgia: the aspirin/diethyl ether mixture. An open-label study plus a double-blind controlled clinical trial.
Topical aspirin/diethyl ether (ADE) mixture was used to treat 45 consecutive patients with acute herpetic neuralgia (AHN) (n = 28) and with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) (n = 17) in an open-label study. Good-to-excellent results were achieved by 93% of AHN patients and by 65% of PHN patients. Earlier treatment yielded better results for the AHN but not the PHN group. ⋯ Treatment tolerance was excellent with no adverse effect observed. In addition to the open trial, a pilot double-blind crossover placebo-controlled study (n = 11) compared the analgesic efficacy of ADE with two other NSAID (indomethacin and diclofenac) drug/ether mixtures. Aspirin (but not indomethacin and diclofenac) was significantly superior to placebo as regards pain relief (P less than 0.05).
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Both intravenous lidocaine and morphine reduce the pain of postherpetic neuralgia.
We studied the analgesic efficacy of an intravenous infusion of lidocaine and morphine in 19 adults with well-established postherpetic neuralgia in a three-session, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Compared with saline placebo, both lidocaine and morphine reduced pain intensity. ⋯ In the majority of subjects who reported definite pain relief, allodynia also disappeared. The results show that neuropathic pain can respond to opioids and to systemically administered local anesthetic drugs.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a mixture of gangliosides ('Cronassial') in post-herpetic neuralgia.
A double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial was carried out in 25 patients with post-herpetic neuralgia to determine the efficacy and tolerability of a mixture of gangliosides ('Cronassial') compared with placebo. Patients were allocated at random to receive treatment with either 'Cronassial' (100 mg in 2 ml buffered solution) or placebo given by 11 subcutaneous injections over a period of 27 days, and their symptoms assessed on entry and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The four aspects of pain considered (overall pain, hyperaesthesia, stabbing pain and constant ache) all showed maintained reductions in severity with 'Cronassial' treatment, but not with placebo. ⋯ Two of these 5 patients were withdrawn from the study. There were no withdrawals in the placebo group. It is suggested that further studies employing greater numbers of patients should be carried out to confirm the efficacy of gangliosides in improving symptoms of patients with post-herpetic neuralgia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intraoperative cryoanalgesia for postthoracotomy pain relief.
In a randomized study, 63 patients were investigated for the benefits of cryoanalgesia after thoracotomy. Analgesia and its dependent effects such as enhancement of mobility, respiratory function, and reduced need of narcotics were evaluated. ⋯ However, moderate to severe neuralgia was found in a number of patients in the cryoanalgesia group in the late postoperative period. Cryoanalgesia for pain relief after thoracotomy is not recommended.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Iontophoresis of vincristine versus saline in post-herpetic neuralgia. A controlled trial.
Twenty patients with post-herpetic neuralgia (median duration 28.5 months) were randomly allocated to receive transdermal iontophoresis of either vincristine or saline. Although significant improvement in pain by word score and visual analogue scale (P = 0.05) was reported by 6 out of 10 of the vincristine group, none of the patients considered themselves 'cured.' There was no significant change in the saline group. ⋯ The dramatic relief of pain in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia of 3 months or less reported elsewhere was not seen in our group who had pain of a longer duration. This present trial does not confirm the value of vincristine iontophoresis in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia of over 6 months duration.