What are non-surgical treatments for TN?
The first line of treatment for patients with TN is always medication. Even minimally invasive surgery carries risks and should be considered a last resort. The drugs most commonly used for treating TN are anti-convulsants, medications that were originally developed for the treatment of epilepsy. However, this class of medications has been found to be quite effective in treating nerve pain, including TN, when taken on an on-going basis. The anti-convulsant most commonly prescribed for TN is carbamazepine (Tegretol), which can provide at least partial pain relief for up to 80% to 90% of patients. Other anti-convulsants prescribed for TN include phenytoin (Dilantin), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), and topiramate (Topamax). The muscle relaxant baclofen (Lioresal) can also be prescribed, alone or in combination with other drugs. Commonly experienced side effects of drug therapy for TN include dizziness, drowsiness, forgetfulness, unsteadiness, an
