Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Dalframpridine and trigeminal neuralgia

Birnbaum G., Iverson J.  Dalfampridine may activate latent trigeminal neuralgia in patients with multiple sclerosis.  Neurology 2014; 83: 1610-12.

Of 71 patients in MS clinic given dalfampridine, 5 had a history either of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) or altered facial sensation.  One with altered facial sensation developed TN after starting dalfampridine x 18 months.  Pain subsided when dalfampridine was stopped.  Three other patients had marked worsening of TN after starting dalfampridine, became refractory to medicinal treatment, and in one case required surgery for pain control

Moral- use dalfampridine with caution in patients with preexisting TN.

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