New guidelines list drugs for neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is relatively common but often poorly treated, says Dr Bridin Murnion, an addiction medicine specialist and University of Sydney academic.

Strong opioids should be relegated to last, she says.

Updated international guidelines have clarified the definition of neuropathic pain and updated their recommendations for drug treatment based on evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dr Murnion says being aware of these changes is fundamental to the treatment and management of the condition.

She notes that fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain without radiculopathy no longer meet the current criteria for the definition of neuropathic pain.

Here are the latest drug treatment recommendations according to the International Association for the Study of Pain:

Dr Murnion says tricyclic antidepressants and SNRIs should be trialled first.

If they are ineffective, she recommends considering a trial of a gabapentinoid, then tramadol.

And if nothing seems to work, devise a plan for stopping treatment, she adds.

Source: NPS MedicineWise