LAMOTRIGINE (LAMICTAL)
Drug Treatments for Facial Neuralgias

Disclaimer.

 Trade name Lamictal.

Lamotrigine is a relatively new anticonvulsant used in the treatment of partial and generalized seizures and holds promise as treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.  Recent studies show Lamotrigine treatment provided pain relief for patients with diabetic neuropathy and for patients with treatment-resistant trigeminal neuralgia ^{-1 -2} especially in those whose pain is not controlled by or who cannot tolerate carbamazepine.

Lamotrigine appears to have few serious side effects (most common are sleepiness, dizziness,  headache, vertigo, rash) but it is such a new drug,  few long-term studies exist. 

Epilepsy Ontario:Lamotrigine.

Lamotrigine for Pain with Hyperalgesia
Irish Medical Journal article (March, 1997)

Lamotrigine control of trigeminal neuralgia: an expanded study
Excellent article  in the Journal of Neurology (August, 1997) on use of lamotrigine to treat trigeminal neuralgia.  Unfortunately, this article is no longer available online.
 

1. JM Zakrzewska, DW Palton, TJ Nurmikko, EL Mullens, GT Loft. A randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Trial of Lamictal (Lamotrigine) in Refractory Trigeminal Neuralgia. Abstract 147 World Congress of Pain, Vancouver, 19th August 1996.
2. Sergio Canavero, Vincenzo Bonicalzi. Lamotrigine control of trigeminal neuralgia: an expanded study  J Neurol 244 (1997) 8, 527-527