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Oxcarbazepine monotherapy in postherpetic neuralgia unresponsive to carbamazepine and gabapentin
Author(s) -
Criscuolo S.,
Auletta C.,
Lippi S.,
Brogi F.,
Brogi A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2005.00300.x
Subject(s) - oxcarbazepine , postherpetic neuralgia , carbamazepine , gabapentin , medicine , tolerability , anesthesia , visual analogue scale , pregabalin , neuralgia , neuropathic pain , epilepsy , pharmacology , adverse effect , alternative medicine , pathology , psychiatry
Objectives – We present the results of a preliminary, open‐label trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oxcarbazepine in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) unresponsive to treatment with antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine and gabapentin) and local anesthetic blocks. Materials and methods – Twenty‐four patients were treated with oxcarbazepine monotherapy for 8 weeks. Starting dose was 150 mg/day, subsequently increased by 150 mg/day every 2 days until a maintenance dose of 900 mg/day. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results – There was a significant decrease in the mean VAS score following 8 weeks of treatment (Δ = 5.33; paired t ‐test: P < 0.0001) compared with baseline. Oxcarbazepine was effective from the first week of treatment. There was a significant reduction in allodynia, leading to improvements in patients’ functioning and quality of life. Oxcarbazepine was generally well tolerated. Conclusion – Oxcarbazepine appears to be a promising alternative monotherapeutic approach for patients affected by PHN.