Side effects limit use of older anticonvulsants

Anti-seizure drugs have been used to treat nerve pain for many years, but their use was limited by the severity of side effects they produce.

Older anti-seizure drugs include:

• Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol)
• Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)
• Valproic acid (Depakene)

Side effects may include:

• Liver damage
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Double vision
• Loss of coordination
• Drowsiness
• Headache

If you take an older anticonvulsant, you generally need regular follow-up visits so that your doctor can monitor for side effects. These older drugs often have more side effects than do the newer anticonvulsants, and the evidence supporting use of the older anticonvulsants for neuropathic pain is sparse at times. As a result, older drugs may be recommended only when the newer medications prove ineffective.