Disclaimer.

According to Joanna M. Zakrzewska, MD, head of the Department of Oral Medicine at St., Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, only 12 controlled trials on the effects of certain medications on trigeminal neuralgia have been conducted, among them Tegretol, Pimozide, Lamotrigine and Baclofen.

The drugs used to treat trigeminal neuralgia and related conditions are divided into five groups.

* Anticonvulsants (anti-epileptic drugs).
* Antidepressants
* Anti-spasticity drugs
* Ordinary painkillers
* Experimental drugs

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has written a simple introduction to pain medications. Though applicable to neurological pain syndromes in general, the article contains good specific references to TN medications as well. See Treatment Options for Chronic Pain .

Drug Assistance Programs
The pharmaceutical industry has had a long-standing tradition of providing prescription medicines free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medicines. The following website give information about what medicines are covered and eligibility criteria.