Which medication is commonly used to treat trigeminal neuralgia?

Tegretol, known generically as carbamazepine, is a first-line medication for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. This condition is characterized by severe facial pain resulting from irritation or damage to the trigeminal nerve. Carbamazepine works by stabilizing the neuronal membranes, which helps to decrease the excessive electrical activity that leads to pain signals being transmitted along the nerve.

The effectiveness of Tegretol in managing trigeminal neuralgia is well-established, and it can provide significant relief for patients suffering from this painful disorder.

Other medications, like gabapentin, are also used for nerve pain but are typically second-line treatments for trigeminal neuralgia after carbamazepine. Aspirin and ibuprofen, while effective for general pain relief and inflammation, do not address the underlying neuropathic pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia and thus are not used as primary treatments for this specific condition.