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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Mar 5.
Published in final edited form as: Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;25(3-4):159–172. doi: 10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.2013007944

Table 2. Pharmacological Management of Central Pain Syndrome.

Drug Class Effect Comments
Amitriptyline Tricyclic acids Inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake Sedating effects
Baclofen Muscle relaxants Activates GABAb receptor —
Carbamazepine Anticonvulsants Stabilizes the inactivated state of voltage-gated sodium channels —
Dantrolene Muscle relaxants Depresses excitation of skeletal muscle by binding to the ryanodine receptor Central nervous system side effects
Diazepam Benzodiazepines Bind and activates GABAa receptor —
Gabapentin Anticonvulsants Increases the synaptic concentration of GABA, enhances GABA responses Decreases glutamate Careful use in patients with renal impairment
Ketamine Anesthetics Noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist —
Tizanidine Antispasmodics Binds to central α-2 adrenergic receptors to increase presynaptic motor neuron inhibition —
Morphine Opiates μ-Opioid receptor agonist —

GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid; NMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartate.