Table 4.
Summary of randomised controlled trials for pharmacological treatments in trigeminal neuralgia
| Number of RCTs | Number of patients | Dose range (mg/day) |
Responder rate | |
| Carbamazepine | 3 | 138 | 800–1200 | 68%–100% |
| Oxcarbazepine | 1 | 48 | 600–1800 | 100% |
| Lamotrigine | 1 | 14 | 200–400 | 85% |
| Gabapentin* | 16 | 1156 | Up to 3600 | Reportedly similar to carbamazepine |
| Baclofen | 1 | 10 | 30–60 | 70% |
| Botulinum toxin type A | 4 | 178 | 25–100 units | 68%–86% |
| Pimozide | 1 | 48 | 4–12 | 100%† |
| Tizanidine | 1 | 12 | 18 | 20% |
Pregabalin: no RCTs available.
*Gabapentin: all RCTs are in Chinese language and results difficult to access.
†Pimozide trial has been heavily criticised for methodological pitfalls.
RCTs, randomised controlled trials.