2005 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 105-108
Trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharygeal neuralgia include severe paroxysmal pains. Carbamazepine is used for treatment of these disorders, but has many side effects and the efficacy may decline over time.
A 65-year-old male with severe pain of trigeminal neuralgia (VAS=100mm) experienced a general eruption due to a side effect of carbamazepine. We prescribed baclofen (10mg/day) for the pain. After increasing baclofen to 15mg/day, the pain disappeared completely.
A 76-year-old male was diagnosed as having glossopharyngeal neuralgia from left pharyngeal pain on swallowing and the efficacy of nerve block by topical application of local anesthetic. The combined treatment with carbamazepine and repetitive nerve block using local anesthetics was not effective for pain relief (VAS=96mm). Baclofen was started from 15mg/day in addition to carbamazepine and herbal medicine. After increasing baclofen to 20mg/day, the pain was reduced to VAS 36mm.
Baclofen was effective to treat pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
