Guidance

Recommendations

Recommendations

People have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about their care, as described in NICE's information on making decisions about your care.

Making decisions using NICE guidelines explains how we use words to show the strength (or certainty) of our recommendations, and has information about prescribing medicines (including off‑label use), professional guidelines, standards and laws (including on consent and mental capacity), and safeguarding.

The following guidance is based on the best available evidence. The full guideline gives details of the methods and the evidence used to develop the guidance.

1.1 List of all recommendations

Key principles of care

For guidance on safe prescribing and managing withdrawal of antidepressants and dependence-forming medicines, see NICE's guideline on medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms.

1.1.1

When agreeing a treatment plan with the person, take into account their concerns and expectations, and discuss:

  • the severity of the pain, and its impact on lifestyle, daily activities (including sleep disturbance) and participation

  • the underlying cause of the pain and whether this condition has deteriorated

  • why a particular pharmacological treatment is being offered

  • the benefits and possible adverse effects of pharmacological treatments, taking into account any physical or psychological problems, and concurrent medications

  • the importance of dosage titration and the titration process, providing the person with individualised information and advice

  • coping strategies for pain and for possible adverse effects of treatment

  • non-pharmacological treatments, for example, physical and psychological therapies (which may be offered through a rehabilitation service) and surgery (which may be offered through specialist services).

    For more information about involving people in decisions and supporting adherence, see the NICE guideline on medicines adherence.

1.1.2

Consider referring the person to a specialist pain service and/or a condition-specific service at any stage, including at initial presentation and at the regular clinical reviews (see recommendation 1.1.6), if:

  • they have severe pain or

  • their pain significantly limits their lifestyle, daily activities (including sleep disturbance) and participation or

  • their underlying health condition has deteriorated.

1.1.3

Continue existing treatments for people whose neuropathic pain is already effectively managed, taking into account the need for regular clinical reviews (see recommendation 1.1.6).

1.1.4

When introducing a new treatment, take into account any overlap with the old treatments to avoid deterioration in pain control.

1.1.5

After starting or changing a treatment, carry out an early clinical review of dosage titration, tolerability and adverse effects to assess the suitability of the chosen treatment.

1.1.6

Carry out regular clinical reviews to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. Each review should include an assessment of:

  • pain control

  • impact on lifestyle, daily activities (including sleep disturbance) and participation

  • physical and psychological wellbeing

  • adverse effects

  • continued need for treatment.

1.1.7

When withdrawing or switching treatment, taper the withdrawal regimen to take account of dosage and any discontinuation symptoms.

Treatment

All neuropathic pain (except trigeminal neuralgia)

For guidance on safe prescribing and managing withdrawal of antidepressants and dependence-forming medicines, see NICE's guideline on medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms.

For advice on treating sciatica, see the NICE guideline on low back pain and sciatica and the September 2020 update information.

1.1.8

Offer a choice of amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin as initial treatment for neuropathic pain (except trigeminal neuralgia). See additional information for more on duloxetine, gabapentin and pregabalin.

1.1.9

If the initial treatment is not effective or is not tolerated, offer 1 of the remaining 3 drugs, and consider switching again if the second and third drugs tried are also not effective or not tolerated.

1.1.10

Consider tramadol only if acute rescue therapy is needed (see recommendation 1.1.12 about long‑term use).

1.1.11

Consider capsaicin cream for people with localised neuropathic pain who wish to avoid, or who cannot tolerate, oral treatments. See additional information for more on capsaicin cream.

Treatments that should not be used
1.1.12

Do not start the following to treat neuropathic pain in non-specialist settings, unless advised by a specialist to do so:

Antiseizure medicines: NICE is assessing the impact of the following MHRA drug safety updates on recommendations in this guideline:

Trigeminal neuralgia
1.1.14

If initial treatment with carbamazepine is not effective, is not tolerated or is contraindicated, consider seeking expert advice from a specialist and consider early referral to a specialist pain service or a condition-specific service.