Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: Old Concepts and Novel Advances

The medical management of neuropathic pain consists of five main classes of oral medication (serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake blockers, Na-blocker anticonvulsants, Ca-blocker anticonvulsants, tramadol and opioids) and several categories of topical medications for patients with cutaneous allodynia and hyperalgesia (capsaicin and local anaesthetics). In many cases an early combination of compounds affecting different mechanisms is useful. Antidepressants: The effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in neuropathic pain may account for their broad range of pharmacological actions. In a recent controlled…