Multimodal therapy should be used to treat neuropathic (nerve) pain.
Gabapentin is a medication that is used to treat some types of persistent pain, most effectively nerve pain such as burning, shooting, or stabbing pain. It belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants, which are also used to treat epilepsy.
The most common side effects associated with gabapentin include dizziness, somnolence (sleepiness), ataxia (unsteadiness) and peripheral oedema (swelling due to fluid retention). These effects are more common when treatment is first initiated or the dose is increased and generally improve with continued treatment as your body gets used to the medicine.
Gabapentin is likely only one of the options used to try and improve your pain.
Other therapies that can improve nerve pain include:
- Physical therapy
- Psychological therapy
- Occupational therapy
Other medications/ treatments that can improve nerve pain include:
- Other anti-epileptic medications such as Carbamazepine or Topiramate.
- Anti-depressants such as tricyclic-antidepressants (amitriptyline or nortriptyline) or SNRI’s (Duloxetine)
- Topical treatments – patches, creams or ointments, such as Lignocaine patches.
- Infusions such as Ketamine/ Lignocaine infusions.
- Selected nerve blocks, pulsed radiofrequency and radiofrequency ablations and other advanced pain interventions.