Articles: neuralgia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Gabapentin in postherpetic neuralgia: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.
A multicentre double blind, randomised, placebo controlled 7-week study evaluated the efficacy and safety of gabapentin 1800 or 2400 mg/day in treating postherpetic neuralgia. Three hundred and thirty-four men and women aged at least 18 years (mean 73) received gabapentin 1800 or 2400 mg daily or placebo in three divided doses with a forced titration schedule. The primary outcome measure was change in average daily pain diary score (baseline week v final week). ⋯ Overall gabapentin was well tolerated. The most common adverse events were dizziness and somnolence, particularly during the titration phase. Thus, this study confirms the role of gabapentin as an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment for postherpetic neuralgia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Systemic adenosine infusion reduces the area of tactile allodynia in neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury: a multi-centre, placebo-controlled study.
Systemic adenosine has been shown in earlier case reports and a small placebo-controlled study to reduce pathological sensory dysfunction such as tactile allodynia in neuropathic pain. To evaluate this further, the effects of systemic adenosine infusion (50 microg/kg/min for 60 min) on tactile sensory dysfunction and pain was evaluated in 26 patients suffering peripheral neuropathic pain characterized by dynamic tactile allodynia. A randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled technique was used in this multi-centre study. ⋯ The area of dynamic tactile allodynia was significantly reduced by adenosine compared with placebo (p=0.043), but spontaneous pain and tactile pain threshold were not significantly improved compared with the effects of placebo treatment. As a secondary outcome, a higher incidence of positive subjective effects on the clinical pain condition, in a few cases with long duration (several months), following adenosine treatment was found when the global effect of respective treatment was assessed (p=0.028). The results demonstrate involvement of adenosine receptor-sensitive pain mechanisms in some aspects of the sensory dysfunction often found in neuropathic pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A placebo-controlled trial of lamotrigine for painful HIV-associated neuropathy.
To investigate the analgesic efficacy of lamotrigine in the treatment of painful HIV-associated distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP). ⋯ In this small trial, lamotrigine showed promise in the treatment of pain associated with HIV-related DSP. The frequency of rash was greater than in lamotrigine studies in epilepsy. A larger controlled study of lamotrigine is warranted.
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Review Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Postherpetic neuralgia: role of gabapentin and other treatment modalities.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic and painful condition that may occur after a herpes zoster infection. The frequency of PHN after untreated zoster varies widely. Age is the most important risk factor for development of PHN. ⋯ Until recently, carbamazepine was the only antiepileptic drug evaluated for the treatment of PHN. Over the past few years, however, gabapentin has received increasing attention as a useful treatment for neuropathic pain. Gabapentin lacks significant drug-drug interactions and has a favorable safety profile, which makes it particularly useful for treatment of PHN.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Gabapentin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a randomized controlled trial.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a syndrome of often intractable neuropathic pain following herpes zoster (shingles) that eludes effective treatment in many patients. ⋯ Gabapentin is effective in the treatment of pain and sleep interference associated with PHN. Mood and quality of life also improve with gabapentin therapy.