Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis Improved With Oral Famciclovir: A Case Report

• Published in: Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery Vol. 32; no. 5; p. e119
• Main Authors: Emeriewen, Krisztina, Macgregor, Cheryl, Athanasiadis, Yannis, Tsatsos, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2016
• Subjects: 2-Aminopurine - administration & dosage; 2-Aminopurine - analogs & derivatives; Administration, Oral; Aged; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Humans; Male; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis; Neuralgia - diagnosis; Neuralgia - drug therapy; Neuralgia - etiology; Pain Measurement
• ISSN: 1537-2677
• DOI: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000000300

Multiple sclerosis can be a debilitating disease that is often associated with neuropathic pain and discomfort in the trigeminal region. This can pose a therapeutic challenge as the benefits of the treatment options have to be outweighed against significant side effects. The authors present the case of a 67-year-old man, whose control of trigeminal neuralgia with botulinum toxin A injections was lost after an episode of herpes labialis and herpes zoster infection. The pain management of the patient during the episodes of herpes simplex and varicella zoster infections was greatly improved with famciclovir treatment, and subsequently control of trigeminal neuralgia was regained with botulinum toxin A injections. This case serves to highlight the potential association of multiple sclerosis with herpetic infections as well as the treatment challenges, especially management of pain, which they can possess.