Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Telephone , fax , e-mail dwight. For commercial reuse, contact support pulsus. Neuropathic pain is defined as a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system, and may involve the central or peripheral nervous systems.
Treatment of neuropathic pain is a challenge for clinicians involved in affected patients' care. In , the first guidelines for the treatment of neuropathic pain in the Canadian context were produced by the Canadian Pain Society. This update to these guidelines incorporates new evidence published since the first guidelines were released. Neuropathic pain NeP , redefined as pain caused by a lesion or a disease of the somatosensory system, is a disabling condition that affects approximately two million Canadians.
To review the randomized controlled trials RCTs and systematic reviews related to the pharmacological management of NeP to develop a revised evidence-based consensus statement on its management. RCTs, systematic reviews and existing guidelines on the pharmacological management of NeP were evaluated at a consensus meeting in May and updated until September Medications were recommended in the consensus statement if their analgesic efficacy was supported by at least one methodologically sound RCT class I or class II showing significant benefit relative to placebo or another relevant control group.
Recommendations for treatment were based on the degree of evidence of analgesic efficacy, safety and ease of use. Analgesic agents recommended for first-line treatments are gabapentinoids gabapentin and pregabalin , tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.
Tramadol and controlled-release opioid analgesics are recommended as second-line treatments for moderate to severe pain.
