Carbamazepine in the Treatment of Neuralgia

TLDR

Carbamazepine, used for epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia for over eight years, has shown effectiveness but variable side‑effect profiles, with occasional serious hematopoietic events and no long‑term blood studies reported. This study aimed to assess carbamazepine’s side effects and its use in other neuralgias such as postherpetic, tabetic, and atypical facial neuralgia. A double‑blind design was employed to evaluate these outcomes. Carbamazepine is an antiepileptic drug.

Abstract

CARBAMAZEPINE (Tegretol) has been used for more than eight years in other countries for the treatment of epilepsy and, more recently, trigeminal neuralgia. The earliest reports on its effect in trigeminal neuralgia were by Blom1,2in Sweden, Bonduelle et al3in France, and Spillane4and Taylor5in England. Since then, there have been a number of additional papers.6-9The authors are in agreement on the effectiveness of this drug in trigeminal neuralgia, but the type and number of side effects have been quite variable. There have been occasional reports of serious hematopoietic effects,10,11but no repeated blood studies over long periods have been reported. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the side effects and also the application of this drug in some of the other neuralgias such as postherpetic, tabetic, and atypical facial neuralgia. A double-blind technique was necessary. Carbamazepine is an