Relief from cancer pain with anticonvulsants

A new study by researchers at the A & A Pain Institute in St Louis, Missouri(A & A stands for Analgesia: pain reduction & Algology: the study of pain), have found that an anticonvulsant drug levetiracetam brings dramatic relief to nerve pain caused by cancer. In a study of seven patients between 39 and 67 who had severe nerve pain related to cancer, which is caused by the tumor pressing on the nerve, analgesic drugs were not effective in relieving the pain. For the study, they were given along with injected narcotics, varying doses of levetiracetam over periods ranging from two days to two weeks. Doses varied between 500 milligrams and 1,500 milligrams depending upon the patient response.

Researchers said they witnessed dramatic results in all seven patients who reported improved pain relief with scores going down from 8 to 10 to zero to three and they also found that the participants tolerated the drug well without any adverse effects.