A pharmacological treatment algorithm for localized neuropathic pain.

A pharmacological treatment algorithm for localized neuropathic pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2016 Feb;32(2):377-84 Authors: Allegri M, Baron R, Hans G, Correa-Illanes G, Mayoral Rojals V, Mick G, Serpell M Abstract Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system and is difficult to manage, often proving refractory to existing treatments. In more than half of cases, it is localized and affects a specific, clearly circumscribed area of the body (localized neuropathic pain, or LNP). A recently developed screening tool enables patients with probable neuropathic pain/LNP to be identified quickly and easily. In view of the conflicting current treatment recommendations, an advisory board of pain specialists met in June 2015 to develop a complementary treatment guidance algorithm, for use in the primary care setting and by non-pain specialists. The starting point of the algorithm is a diagnosis of LNP and there was consensus that first-line treatment should be a topical analgesic agent, because the benefit/risk ratios are far better than for systemic agents. Topical application offers site-specific delivery, a lower total systemic dose and avoidance of first-pass metabolism, reducing the risk of adverse events and drug/drug interactions. The 5% lidocaine medicated plaster has most evidence supporting its use in LNP, producing effective analgesia and reducing the associated area of allodynia, but other topical...
Source: Current Medical Research and Opinion - Category: Research Tags: Curr Med Res Opin Source Type: research