Effects of Topiramate on Dysaesthetic Pain in a Patient with Multiple Sclerosis

Siniscalchi, Antonio
Gallelli, Luca
De Sarro, Giovambattista

A. Siniscalchi
Department of Neuroscience, Neurology Division,
"Annunziata" Hospital, Cosenza, Italy
L. Gallelli · G. De Sarro
Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Clinical Pharmacology Unit Mater Domini University Hospital, Viale Europa - Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
e-mail: [email protected]

Dr Siniscalchi and Dr Gallelli contributed equally to this work.

Published online: 4 January 2013

Clinical Drug Investigation 33(2):p 151-154, February 2013. | DOI: 10.1007/s40261-012-0051-z

Abstract

Dysaesthetic pain is a common neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis. Both tricyclic antidepressants (i.e., amitriptyline and duloxetine) and antiepileptic drugs (i.e., carbamazepine, gabapentin and pregabalin) represent first-line treatment of neuropathic pain. However, topiramate, an antiepileptic drug, also demonstrated clinical efficacy in these patients. In this report we describe the case of a 42-year-old woman with an 8-year history of multiple sclerosis who developed dysaesthetic pain in the lower limbs, and was successfully treated with topiramate at a final dose of 150 mg/day. About 8 months after beginning topiramate treatment, the patient had not shown any dysaesthetic pain, and no adverse events related to topiramate had been recorded.