Brief Reports
Open pilot study on oxcarbazepine for the treatment of notalgia paresthetica

https://doi.org/10.1067/mjd.2001.116228Get rights and content

Abstract

Notalgia paresthetica is a sensory neuropathy typically presenting with pruritus on the back. There is currently no effective treatment for this disorder. We describe a single patient who responded to oxcarbazepine, and a subsequent trial in another 4 who also responded. Although the number of patients in our study is small, we believe further trials are warranted to determine the efficacy of oxcarbazepine in this disorder. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:630-2.)

Section snippets

Case report

A 29-year-old woman presented to the dermatology clinic with a 2-year history of a pruritic hyperpigmented patch on her back (Fig 1).

. Patient 1. Characteristic well-circumscribed hyperpigmented patch on right scapular area.

She also complained of episodic pain in that area. Various antihistamines, analgesics, and topical corticosteroids had not brought relief. The dermatologic diagnosis of NP was made, and the patient was started on a regimen of oxcarbazepine 300 mg twice daily. At the end of 1

Results

This response to oxcarbazepine in our patient led us to prescribe the same medication in 4 more patients with NP. One patient had to stop using oxcarbazepine because of headache and dizziness within the first 2 weeks of treatment. The remaining 3 patients were followed up for 6 months with monthly physical and laboratory examinations. No unwanted clinical or laboratory findings were observed in these patients during this period.

The therapeutic regimens and monthly scores of the symptoms of all

Discussion

Although NP has been generally accepted to be a sensory neuropathy, its pathogenesis has not been completely elucidated. Factors implicated include a hereditary component, increased dermal innervation, neurotoxicity of certain chemicals, and spinal nerve injury resulting from trauma or entrapment.4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Just as the exact pathomechanisms of NP are not clear, there is also no well-established and curative mode of treatment for this disorder. Among the therapeutic alternatives

References (16)

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Reprint requests: Ekin Şavk, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aydin, Turkey.

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