Abstract | BACKGROUND: This is an update of the original Cochrane review published in Issue 2, 2007. Some antiepileptic medicines have a place in the treatment of neuropathic pain ( pain due to nerve damage). This updated review adds five new additional studies looking at evidence for Lamotrigine as an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain. OBJECTIVES: SEARCH STRATEGY: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of lamotrigine in acute, and chronic pain (including cancer pain) were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL up to January 2011. Additional studies were sought from the reference list of the retrieved papers. SELECTION CRITERIA: RCTs investigating the use of lamotrigine (any dose, by any route, and for any study duration) for the treatment of acute or chronic pain. Assessment of pain intensity or pain relief, or both, using validated scales. Participants were adults aged 18 and over. Only full journal publication articles were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Dichotomous data (ideally for the outcome of at least 50% pain relief) were used to calculate relative risk with 95% confidence intervals. Meta-analysis was undertaken using a fixed-effect model. Numbers needed to treat to benefit (NNTs) were calculated as the reciprocal of the absolute risk reduction. For unwanted effects, the NNT becomes the number needed to harm (NNH) and was calculated. MAIN RESULTS: AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The additional studies tripled participant numbers providing data for analysis, and new, more stringent criteria for outcomes and analysis were used; conclusions about lamotrigine's lack of efficacy in chronic pain did not change. Given availability of more effective treatments including antiepileptics and antidepressant medicines, lamotrigine does not have a significant place in therapy based on available evidence.
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Authors | Philip J Wiffen, Sheena Derry, R Andrew Moore |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 2
Pg. CD006044
(Feb 16 2011)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21328280
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)
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Chemical References |
- Analgesics
- Triazines
- Lamotrigine
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Analgesics
(therapeutic use)
- Chronic Disease
- Humans
- Lamotrigine
- Pain
(drug therapy)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Triazines
(therapeutic use)
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