Trigeminal neuralgia. New treatment options for a well-known cause of facial pain.

Trigeminal neuralgia is an idiopathic disorder of unilateral facial pain that is characterized by lancinating paroxysms of pain in the lips, gums, cheek, or chin. Pain in trigeminal neuralgia is associated with physical triggers. Much of the treatment has been unchanged for more than 10 years, with cabamazepine being the standard first-line treatment. There are several promising new medications available, such as pimozide, tizanidine hydrochloride, and topical capsaicin. Surgical management is also effective.