Anticonvulsants for chronic low back pain

Anticonvulsants for chronic low back pain
Examples
How It Works
Why It Is Used
How Well It Works
Side Effects
What To Think About
References
Credits

Content provided by Healthwise

Examples

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Tegretol	carbamazepine

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Neurontin	gabapentin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Dilantin	phenytoin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Lyrica	pregabalin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Topamax	topiramate

How It Works

Anticonvulsants are used to help control or prevent abnormal increases in brain electrical activity.

Why It Is Used

Anticonvulsants can reduce some persistent low back pain with fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants.¹

If you are an older adult taking various medicines, you could be at risk for having your medicines interact. Drug interaction is the way different medicines react to each other when you take them together. This interaction can sometimes cause serious problems. Some drugs cause more problems than others.

You may already be taking one or more drugs to treat other problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Be sure your doctor knows all the drugs you are taking. The anticonvulsant gabapentin may be your best bet for safely treating chronic pain because it is not used by the body in the same way as many other medicines. This makes it less likely to interact with other drugs.²

How Well It Works

Anticonvulsant medicine effectively treats chronic pain for some people but not others. One type of anticonvulsant may work better for you than another. This type of medicine is not well-studied as a chronic pain treatment but is considered a reasonable treatment option.²

Side Effects

When prescribed for chronic pain control, anticonvulsants are used at doses low enough to avoid side effects, and the dosage is usually increased very gradually, if needed. Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following side effects:

Drowsiness
Restlessness and irritability
Confusion and dizziness
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and belly pain
Uncontrollable eye movements (nystagmus)
Gum disease (gingivitis)
Itching, fever, and a rash that looks like measles (sensitivity reaction)

Topiramate can cause weight loss.

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

What To Think About

Anticonvulsants are not safe for everyone. To avoid side effects, be sure to tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have and any other medicines you are taking.

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

References

Citations
American Geriatrics Society (2002). The management of persistent pain in older persons: AGS panel on persistent pain in older persons. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 50(6, Suppl): S205–S224.
Cohen RI, et al. (2001). Low back pain, part 2: Guide to conservative, medical, and procedural therapies. Geriatrics, 56(11): 38–47.

Credits

Author	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Author	Lila Havens
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Katy E. Magee, MA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Kathie Hummel-Berry, PT, PhD - Physical Therapy
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics
Last Updated	February 15, 2006

Print This

Last updated:	February 15, 2006
Author:	Lila Havens
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics
Editors:	Katy E. Magee, MA, Tracy Landauer

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.