Anticonvulsants for cancer pain

Examples

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Brand Name	Chemical Name
Tegretol	carbamazepine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Neurontin	gabapentin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Keppra	levetiracetam

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Trileptal	oxcarbazepine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Dilantin	phenytoin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Topamax	topiramate

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Zonegran	zonisamide

How It Works

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Anticonvulsants control cancer pain by changing the way sodium and calcium travel across the surface of nerve cells in the brain. The nerve cells send fewer signals, and the brain senses a decrease in pain.

Why It Is Used

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Anticonvulsants help reduce pain related to the nervous system (neuropathic pain). Some have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants.

How Well It Works

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Anticonvulsants help control cancer pain related to the nervous system (neuropathic pain).¹

Side Effects

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When anticonvulsants are used to control cancer pain, they may be given in small amounts to limit side effects. Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects, especially:

• Drowsiness.
• Restlessness and irritability.
• Confusion and dizziness.
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and belly pain.
• Blurred vision or uncontrollable eye movements (nystagmus).
• Itching, fever, or a rash (sensitivity reaction).

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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Drowsiness is the most common side effect of anticonvulsant drugs.

These drugs are started at low doses and gradually increased to achieve pain relief.

Carbamazepine can cause a decrease in the white blood cell count, or leukopenia. For this reason it is not generally used to treat cancer pain.¹

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. Foley KM (2005). Management of cancer pain. In VT DeVita Jr et al., eds., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 7th ed., pp. 2615–2649. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Credits

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Author	Cynthia Tank
Editor	Renée Spengler, RN, BSN
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Associate Editor	Lisa Shaw
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Michael Seth Rabin, MD - Medical Oncology
Last Updated	November 4, 2005