What is the history of Trigeminal neuralgia medications?:
Trigeminal neuralgia medications as we know today were non-existent till the mid-part of the twentieth century. For very many centuries before that, all sorts of treatments were tried including applying chilli powder to face, applying capsaicin, bowel cleansing, bee and cobra venom, poisons, some poultices and herbal medications, opiates, and even electric current were used. In the late nineteenth century, Potassium Bromide was used. It was then used as an anticonvulsant drug (medicines to control fits).
In fact the diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia itself was elusive most of the times, and many a wrong diagnosis was made.
Present-day Trigeminal Neuralgia Medication
Anticonvulsants (first line of treatment) like Carbamazepine or its cousins, Gabapentin, other newer drugs.
Baclofen (muscle relaxant)
Specific anti-psychotic drugs like Pimozide
Opioids for pain that is severe and uncontrolled
Is medication the answer for me?
Medications for Trigeminal Neuralgia are effective in controlling the pain. This may be for variable periods of time. Typically the pain stops responding to medication over a period of time. This is because they act more like nerve-numbing medicines. They do not take care of the cause of the pain. The medication does not cure Trigeminal Neuralgia. For this reason, medications need to be taken on long-term basis.
If the patient is not fed up of the side effects of the anticonvulsant or other drugs, and if their pain relief is good, he/she can take it long-term. A few people find a good balance between the pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia and the side-effects of the medication. For those who seek better pain relief there are other alternatives.
What is the best painkiller for Trigeminal neuralgia?
There is no one drug that suits all, but anticonvulsant medications like carbamazepine work for most people, at least temporarily. They are not actually pain killers, but actually work by calming or numbing the Trigeminal nerve.