Trigeminal Neuralgia: Medical Treatment

• No Treatment - Symptoms may subside/disappear without treatment.
  
  
• Anticonvulsant drugs - e.g. Tegretol (carbamazepine) or Neurontin (gabapentin), Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), Dilantin (phenytoin), Depakote (sodium valporate) . This common treatment works by keeping the trigeminal nerve from “firing” or “going off”.
  
  
• Antispastic agents - e.g. Lioresal (baclofen). These can be used if a patient develops an adverse side effect to anticonvulsant drugs. Not as effective as an oral anticonvulsant.
  
  
• Benzopiazepines - e.g. Klonopin (clonazepam). These can be used if a patient develops an adverse side effect to anticonvulsant drugs. Not as effective as an oral anticonvulsant.
  
  
• Antidepressant drugs - e.g. amitriptyline, tricyclic antidepressants. Some antidepressant drugs also have significant pain relieving effects. Not as effective as an oral anticonvulsant.
  
  
• Opioids - short-term use only, especially in critical cases. Trigeminal neuralgia is classically resistant to opioids. Not as effective as an oral anticonvulsant.
  
  
• Alternative medical therapies - Some patients report having reduced or relieved pain by means of alternative medical therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment, self-hypnosis or meditation. Results are not long-lasting or a definitive solution to the problem.

<< more topics here