Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings

Research recommendations coming out of this guidance

• Monotherapy versus combination therapy for treating neuropathic pain:- What is the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and tolerability of pharmacological monotherapy compared with combination therapy for treating neuropathic pain?

• What is the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and tolerability of pharmacological monotherapy compared with combination therapy for treating neuropathic pain?

• What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of alternative treatments as firstline treatment for trigeminal neuralgia compared with other better-tolerated pharmacological treatments?

• Relationship between symptoms, cause of neuropathic pain and its treatment:- Is response to pharmacological treatment predicted more reliably by underlying aetiology or by symptom characteristics?

• Is response to pharmacological treatment predicted more reliably by underlying aetiology or by symptom characteristics?

• Carbamazepine for treating trigeminal neuralgia:- What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of carbamazepine as initial treatment for trigeminal neuralgia compared with other pharmacological treatments?

• What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of carbamazepine as initial treatment for trigeminal neuralgia compared with other pharmacological treatments?

• Factors affecting participation and quality of life:- What are the key factors, including additional care and support, that influence participation and quality of life in people with neuropathic pain?

• What are the key factors, including additional care and support, that influence participation* and quality of life in people with neuropathic pain?

• Impact of drug-related adverse effects on cost effectiveness and quality of life:- What is the impact of drug-related adverse effects on health economics and quality of life in neuropathic pain?

• What is the impact of drug-related adverse effects on health economics and quality of life in neuropathic pain?

• Potential for dependence associated with pharmacological drugs for neuropathic pain:- Is there a potential for dependence associated with pharmacological agents for neuropathic pain?

• Is there a potential for dependence associated with pharmacological agents for neuropathic pain?

• How should the symptomatic treatment of neuropathic pain relate to its cause?

• Does early intervention to treat neuropathic pain reduce the likelihood of chronic pain?

• What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of lidocaine patches for localised peripheral pain?