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Trigeminal neuralgia

Description

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic (long term) pain condition involving the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal nerve carries sensations from the face towards brain. In patients of trigeminal neuralgia, mild stimulation of face results in agonizing pain. Pain may be continuous or intermittent (comes and goes). The frequency and duration of pain varies from person to person.

Causes

 In patients suffering from this condition, even slight irritation of the nerve may cause its trigger. This could be due to:

  • Underlying veins or arteries
  • Any tumor compressing the nerve
  • Multiple sclerosis ( a disease in which the nerve covering protecting the nerves degenerates, making the nerves sensitive)
  • Known causes of trigeminal neuralgia are:

    • A swollen blood vessel or tumor that puts pressure on the nerve,
    • Multiple sclerosis: a condition that affects the nerves,
    • Ageing,
    • Brain lesion,
    • Facial trauma,
    • Surgical injuries,
    • Stroke (blood supply to a part of brain is reduced).
Risk factors

Attacks of Trigeminal neuralgia can be precipitated by:

  • Washing face
  • Brushing teeth
  • Any injury to face
  • Slight touching of the face
  • Cold or hot drinks
  • Smiling
  • Talking
  • Dental surgery
Symptoms

Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are:

  • Episodes of severe excruciating pain that feels like an electric shock,
  • Spontaneous attacks of pain,
  • Pain that aggravates on mild touching of face,
  • Instances of pain lasting for a few seconds to several minutes,
  • Episodes of pain that last for weeks to months and pain free interval that lasts for a few months,
  • Consistent burning sensation,
  • Pain in cheeks, jaws, teeth, gums, and lips,
  • Pain affecting one side of the face,
  • Pain may be localized or generalized,
  • The frequency and intensity of attacks increases with time.
Diagnosis

To reach a diagnosis, your doctor will take your detailed medical, dental, and family history, perform a neurological examination, run a few laboratory investigations like CT scan and MRI, and ask you specific questions regarding your symptoms.

Management

Treatment is primarily based on blocking the pain signals due to nerve involvement. For that, your doctor may give you the following medication:

  • Anti-seizure medication e.g. Carbamazepine
  • Muscle- relaxing agents
  • Botox injection
  • Glycerol injection

Surgeries are also done in severe cases.

When to consult a doctor?

You are recommended to consult a doctor if the frequency, severity, and duration of your symptoms increases, if pain progresses to a chronic (long term) stage, there is a general feeling of discomfort and uneasiness, and there is worsening of your condition.

Available Medicine for Trigeminal neuralgia

Carbanil 100mg

Rs.48.11

Dosaco

Carbanil 200mg

Rs.33

Dosaco

Carbapin 200mg

Rs.33

Genome Pharma

Cazap 200mg

Rs.33

Usawa

Convul 200mg

Rs.0

Siza

Convul 400mg

Rs.0

Siza

Epicar 100mg

Rs.91.14

Adamjee Pharmaceuticals

Epicar 200mg

Rs.46.78

Adamjee Pharmaceuticals

Epigral 200mg

Rs.20

Medicraft

Epilepsin 100mg/5ml

Rs.45.32

Macter

Epilepsin 200mg

Rs.22.59

Macter

Epilex 100mg

Rs.75.72

Bryon

Epilex 200mg

Rs.51.62

Bryon

Episiez 200mg

Rs.15

Medicaids

Epitab XR 200mg

Rs.37.95

Werick

Epitab XR 400mg

Rs.70.15

Werick

Leptic 200mg

Rs.33

Bio Labs

Lexopine 200mg

Rs.18

Highnoon

Mazetol 200mg

Rs.22.2

Cibex

Mezapine 200mg

Rs.22

Valor

Mezine 200mg

Rs.33

Bloom Pharma

Sadmic 200mg

Rs.28

Zeb

Seizunil 100mg

Rs.120.5

Platinum

Seizunil 200mg

Rs.42.4

Platinum

Seizunil 400mg

Rs.32.75

Platinum

Tegral 100mg

Rs.81.62

Novartis

Tegram 200mg

Rs.28

Mediate

Teril 200mg

Rs.58.85

Martin Dow

Tegral 200mg

Rs.63.56

Novartis

Seizunil Tablet 200mg

Rs.147

Platinum