Abstract
Phantom limb pain is a common and difficult neuropathic pain problem following limb amputation. Widespread pathophysiological processes in the central and peripheral nervous system have been implicated with the NMDA receptor likely to play a key role in the process. Conventional anti-neuropathic treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants and ketamine are often either ineffective or cause unacceptable side-effects. Memantine is a clinically well tolerated NMDA receptor antagonist, licensed for use in Alzheimers dementia, that may offer a further therapeutic option when used early in the development of the condition. We describe the succesful use of memantine in the treatment of phantom limb pain to allow discontinuation of opioids with no side-effects.
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