Physicians in the Middle East have welcomed the UAE approval of a new treatment for managing neuropathic (nerve) pain, which can even be used to treat central neuropathic pain – the most severe form of pain that is associated with conditions like spinal injuries and multiple sclerosis.
Neuropathic pain is a complex condition that is often misdiagnosed and poorly managed, according to specialists working within the region. Typically, patients suffer from burning, tingling or shock-like sensations over an ongoing period, which can result in depression, anxiety, and severe disruption to the course of normal life.
The mystery illness afflicts millions of people in the Middle East, with experts suggesting that the chances of developing it increase with age.
Caused by lesions or dysfunctions in the central nervous system, it can be difficult for physicians to diagnose correctly because it lacks obvious physical symptoms and can be mistaken for muscle strain or similar injuries.
This problem can be particularly exacerbated in cases where patients suffer from further physical problems, such as stroke victims or people with spinal column injuries, who go on to develop the most severe form of central neuropathic pain.
The new treatment – Lyrica (pregabalin capsules) – is believed to work by calming hyper-excited neurons, which may be an underlying cause for various types of nerve pain.
“Many of the patients we see live with excruciating pain for which there are only limited treatment options. When we are able to solve the ‘riddle’ of nerve pain – and provide the right treatment approach – the impact on their lives can be monumental, helping them to rejoin society after effectively being imprisoned by their pain,” said Dr. Mohammed Saadah, President, Emirates Neurology Society, Consultant Neurologist and Head of Department, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Through this treatment, Middle East physicians will be in a better position to manage a whole host of difficult-to-treat nerve pains for many of their patients,” he added.
In a clinical trial involving 137 patients with chronic central neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury, patients taking Lyrica experienced a significant reduction in the average intensity of their pain compared to those taking placebo. Pain reduction was demonstrated as early as the first week of treatment and was sustained throughout the study.
More than 40 percent of patients had greater than a 30 percent reduction in pain as compared to 16 percent of patients on placebo.
The European Commission has recently approved Lyrica to treat central neuropathic pain, which can be an especially difficult-to-treat condition, often requiring the use of strong narcotics.
The treatments approval in central neuropathic pain is being seen as further evidence of its robust efficacy in even the most hard to treat neuropathic pain conditions. Lyrica is the only medication approved in the EU to treat both peripheral and central neuropathic pain, which affects up to 7.7 million people in Europe.
In 2004, Lyrica was approved for use in adults for the treatment of various peripheral neuropathic pain indications, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy in more than 60 countries outside of the United States.
Lyrica is centrally approved in all GCC countries and is already launched in the UAE and Kuwait in September 2006; the launch in other Gulf countries is expected soon.
