Use of gabapentin in glossopharyngeal neuralgia
García Callejo, F.J.; Marco Algarra, J.; Talamantes Escribá, F.; Martínez Beneyto, M.P.; Esparcia Navarro, M.; Morant Ventura, A.
Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola 50(2): 175-177
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6519 PMID: 10217696 Document Number: 499449
Anticonvulsant drugs, especially carbamazepine, are the treatment of choice for glossopharyngeal neuralgia. If no clinical response is obtained, surgical treatment, including nerve section or decompression, may be required. We report the results obtained with a new anticonvulsant, gabapentin, as an alternative for cases of carbamazepine failure. In 7 patients with bouts of glosso-pharyngeal neuralgia refractory to the usual medical treatment, gabapentin produced improvement in 5 patients. Response was poor in patients who had undergone surgical nerve decompression. Gabapentin was concluded to be an effective therapeutic option for neuralgia of the IXth cranial nerve before surgery.