Guidance
Update information
September 2020: As part of a surveillance review on neuropathic pain, the available evidence on treating sciatica was reviewed. As the NICE guideline on low back pain and sciatica already covered this topic area, it was agreed that the revised advice would be best placed in that guideline (see the section on pharmacological management of sciatica). Some recommendations for research that included sciatica have also been amended in the full version of this guideline.
July 2019: Because of a risk of abuse and dependence, pregabalin and gabapentin are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as class C substances and scheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 as schedule 3 (as of 1 April 2019). Notes in this guideline have been updated to reflect this change.
April 2018: Cautions in the guideline have been added to link to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) latest advice and resources on sodium valproate.
November 2013: This guideline updated NICE guideline CG96 (published March 2010) and replaced it.
Minor changes since publication
October 2024: We added links to the MHRA Drug Safety Update on valproate use in men and their partners.
July 2024: We added the latest drug safety information from the MHRA on topiramate and valproate to a panel under recommendation 1.1.12.
July 2022: We added a link to the MHRA safety advice on pregabalin in pregnancy to the additional information for recommendation 1.1.8.
April 2022: We added a link to NICE's guideline on medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms in the sections on key principles of care and treatment.
May 2021: We linked to the updated MHRA safety advice on antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy in recommendation 1.1.13.
February 2017: We amended the additional information for recommendation 1.1.8 to clarify use of generic pregabalin and off-label status.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-0328-3