Relief of postherpetic neuralgia with psychotropic drugs

Abstract

✓ Five patients with postherpetic neuralgia experienced almost complete relief of pain within 1 to 2 weeks after the institution of therapy with amitriptyline and a substituted phenothiazine. Three of the group had shown no response to amitriptyline or nortriptyline alone; one had had symptoms exacerbated by surgical denervation. In three, discontinuance or diminution of the dose of the phenothiazine was followed by return of pain, which was then relieved with reinstitution. The results suggest that an appropriate combination of tricyclic antidepressant and substituted phenothiazine medication may decrease the necessity for surgical intervention in postherpetic neuralgia.