Lacosamide for pain.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Neuropathic pain remains a condition that is difficult to treat and with which therapeutic failure is not uncommon. The need for new and effective drugs to treat neuropathic pain remains strong. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: The available preclinical and clinical data for the pain relieving effect of lacosamide have been examined using the papers published and referenced on Medline between 1990 and present. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: It is hoped that readers will gain an insight into the use of this novel analgesic agent in human clinical pain. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The data relating to the pain relieving effect of lacosamide are sparse. The majority of the published human data relate to the use of lacosamide for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy where the extent of pain relief produced has not been deemed sufficient to warrant an application for a product license for this indication. That said, it is suggested that there remains merit in further investigation of this drug for other neuropathic pain conditions.