[Pharmacotherapy of trigeminal neuralgia]

The efficacy of drug treatment on 119 patients with trigeminal neuralgia is reported in the present paper. Among them, 112 were idiopathic trigeminal neuralgias while only 7 cases were secondary trigeminal neuralgias. All patients were treated with drugs at different stages of the evolution of the neuralgia. Carbamazepine was used on all patients. 12.6% was treated with imipramine (tricyclic antidepressive drug), 4 patients received amphetamines due to psychiatric emergencies, 4 patients were treated with phenytoin before this study and three patients received baclofen during short periods of follow-up. Drug therapy was the only treatment method in 51 patients. In 43 patients it was combined with peripheral surgical treatments including injections of alcohol and neurectomies. 16.8% of the patients were treated with drugs and acupuncture; the results of this experience will be reported in a future paper. Only 4.2% (5 patients) underwent neurosurgical treatment: one ponto cerebellar angle tumour, one electrocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion through the stereotaxic method and three cases of microvascular decompression of the trigeminal root. Clinical, pharmacological and neurophysiological aspects of trigeminal neuralgia pharmacotherapy are discussed.