Prescription pattern of oral healthcare professionals in the use of anticonvulsants for trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current prescription pattern of oral healthcare professionals in the management of patients with trigeminal neuralgia at a local hospital.

STUDY

DESIGN

Data relating to a consecutive series of patients (n = 49) with typical trigeminal neuralgia was collected over a period of 6 months.

RESULTS

Over half the subjects (70%) were using carbamazepine as the only form of medical therapy. Gabapentin was used in 20% of the subjects. A combination therapy or Topiramate was used in few of the patients in the study group (7.5%).

CONCLUSION

Carbamazepine is still the main drug of choice in the management of trigeminal neuralgia. New anti-epileptic drugs have broadened the therapeutic options in those who cannot tolerate conventional carbamazepine therapy or surgical treatment.