HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

A placebo-controlled randomized crossover trial of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist, memantine, in patients with chronic phantom limb pain.

AbstractUNLABELLED:
In the present study we investigated the effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist memantine (30 mg/d) on the intensity of chronic phantom limb pain (PLP) and cortical reorganization. In 8 patients with chronic PLP, memantine was tested in a placebo-controlled double-blinded crossover trial of 4 wk duration per trial. The intensity of PLP was rated hourly by the patients on a visual analog scale during baseline and both treatment periods. At the same time points, the functional organization of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) was determined by neuromagnetic source imaging. In comparison to baseline and placebo, the NMDA receptor antagonist had no effect on the intensity of chronic PLP. In none of the periods were significant changes in the functional organization of SI observed. Although the conclusions regarding the clinical effect are limited because of the small sample size, the data indicate that in the studied dosage the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine is ineffective in the treatment of chronic PLP and is also ineffective for the reduction of associated neural plasticity in the primary SI.
IMPLICATIONS:
NMDA receptors play a substantial role in central nervous system changes underlying neuropathic pain. In a placebo-controlled double-blinded study we tested the effect of 30 mg memantine on chronic phantom limb pain and pain-associated cortical reorganization.
AuthorsKatja Wiech, Ralph-Thomas Kiefer, Stephanie Töpfner, Hubert Preissl, Christoph Braun, Klaus Unertl, Herta Flor, Niels Birbaumer
JournalAnesthesia and analgesia (Anesth Analg) Vol. 98 Issue 2 Pg. 408-413 (Feb 2004) ISSN: 0003-2999 [Print] United States
PMID14742379 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Memantine
Topics
  • Adult
  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality (physiology)
  • Humans
  • Magnetoencephalography
  • Male
  • Memantine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement (drug effects)
  • Phantom Limb (drug therapy)
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (antagonists & inhibitors)
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: