Antiepileptics for pain management

For the role of gabapentinoids in pain management, see Commonly used adjuvants in pain management.

Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine have a limited role in pain management; they are used for trigeminal neuralgia in adults and rare genetic disorders of the nociceptive system in children, but are not effective for other pain conditions. Only specialists should prescribe these drugs to children.

Lacosamide, lamotrigine, phenytoin and topiramate should only be prescribed by specialists because there is inadequate evidence to support their use for pain management. Levetiracetam and sodium valproate should not be used for pain management because potential harms outweigh potential benefits.

Benzodiazepines do not have an analgesic effect and, unless indicated for another condition, should not be used for pain management.