%0 Journal Article
%T Is systemic administration of local anesthetic agents effective for relieving neuropathic pain? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary.
%A Iolascon G
%J NeuroRehabilitation
%V 47
%N 2
%D 2020
%M 32716331
%F 1.986
%R 10.3233/NRE-209006
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The role of systemic use of local anesthetics in the treatment of neuropathic pain (NP) is still unclear.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To assess the efficacy and safety of systemic local anesthetics for NP.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>To summarize and to discuss the rehabilitation perspective on the published Cochrane Systematic Review "Systemic administration of local anesthetic agents to relieve neuropathic pain" by Challapalli V et al.RESULTS:The review included 30 RCTs including patients with NP treated with iv lidocaine, oral mexiletine, lidocaine and mexiletine, or oral tocainide. Low-to-moderate quality of the evidence suggest that intravenous lidocaine or oral mexiletine may slightly reduce NP vs placebo, but the efficacy of these drugs is comparable to anticonvulsants or morphine.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Systemic administration of local anesthetics is not supported by scientific evidence for pain relief as well as for functional improvement.