What is the reimbursement status of neuropathic pain medications?
• Tricyclic antidepressants (ex. amitriptyline, nortriptyline) *: full benefit • Carbamazepine*: full benefit • Gabapentin*: Individual Clinical Review (Section 16), for the management of neuropathic pain after failure of a tricyclic antidepressant, or carbamazepine, or phenytoin*. • Lyrica (pregabalin): Individual Clinical Review (Section 16), for the management of neuropathic pain after an adequate trial (ineffective or intolerable side effects) of a tricyclic antidepressant and an adequate trial of gabapentin. * Please note that these medications have not been approved by Health Canada for use in neuropathic pain, however, some physicians found them helpful.
