A Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Effectiveness of LamictalTM and NeurontinTM in Managing Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients with Related Levels of Subjective Acceptance: An Original Research Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Lamictal™ and Neurontin™ in managing trigeminal neuralgia patients with related levels of subjective acceptance

Materials and Methods: This study involved 40 patients aged 35 to 60 with facial pain, eligible regardless of their trigeminal neuralgia (TN) diagnosis status. Exclusion criteria included psychiatric disorders, serious medical conditions, malignancies, pregnancy, substance abuse, and infectious diseases. A clinical history, examination, and MRI confirmed the TN diagnosis. The effectiveness of Lamictal™ and Neurontin™ was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) for pain relief. Patients were divided into two groups: 20 received escalating doses of Lamictal™ (75 mg to 200 mg over 9 weeks), and 20 were treated with Neurontin™ (1200 mg to 1800 mg over the same period). Post-treatment scores were analyzed to assess treatment effectiveness and monitor complications.

Statistical Analysis and Results: This study involved 40 patients aged 35 to 60 diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, excluding those sensitive to Lamictal™ or Neurontin™ and those with serious health issues. Patients gave informed consent and were divided into two groups: Group 1 received escalating doses of Lamictal™ (75 mg, 125 mg, 200 mg) over 9 weeks, while Group 2 received Neurontin™ (1200 mg, 1500 mg, 1800 mg) at the same intervals. Treatment outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). After 9 weeks, Group 1 had a VAS score of 10.7±4.28 and Group 2 had 20.3±7.35. VRS scores were 0.84±0.46 for Group 1 and 1.28±0.54 for Group 2. Post-treatment complications included 6 uncomplicated patients in Group 1 and 4 in Group 2. One-way ANOVA estimates are detailed in Table 8.

Conclusion: The authors found that Lamictal™ was more effective than Neurontin™ for neuropathic pain. While Neurontin™ is effective for diabetic neuropathic pain, lamotrigine excels in chemotherapy-induced pain. These differences may stem from the unique mechanisms of action of the medications, indicating a need for further research on targeted neuropathic pain treatments.