The pain from<unk>  can be very severe and requires immediate treatment. There is no treatment which modifies the course of the disease and management primarily aims to control symptoms. Medications Topical medications Medications applied to the skin can be used alone if the pain from<unk>  is mild or in combination with oral medications if the pain is moderate to severe. Topical medications for<unk>  include low-dose (0.075%) and high-dose (8%) capsaicin and anesthetics such as lidocaine patches. Lidocaine patches (5% concentration) are approved in the United States and Europe to treat<unk>  though evidence supporting their use is limited. A meta-analysis of multiple small placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials found that for every two people treated with topical lidocaine, one person experienced at least a 50% reduction in their<unk> -associated pain (number needed to treat (NNT)=2). Low-dose capsaicin may be useful for reducing<unk> -associated pain but is limited by side effects (redness and a burning or stinging sensation with application) and the need to apply it four times daily. Approximately three people must be treated with low-dose capsaicin cream for one person to experience significant pain relief (number needed to treat =3.3). A single topical application of a high-dose capsaicin patch over the affected area after numbing the area with a topical anesthetic has also been found to relieve<unk> -associated pain. For every eleven people treated with a high-dose capsaicin patch for up to 12 weeks, one person experienced a significant improvement in their pain. (number needed to treat=11). Due to the need for topical anesthesia before application of the high-dose capsaicin patch, referral to a pain specialist is generally recommended if this approach is being considered. Oral medications Multiple oral medications have demonstrated efficacy in relieving<unk>  pain. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as nortriptyline or desipramine, are effective in reducing<unk>  pain but are limited by their numerous side effects. For every three people treated with a tricyclic antidepressant, one person is expected to have a clinically significant reduction in their pain (NNT=3). Additionally, of every sixteen people treated with a TCA, one person is expected to stop the medication due to a bothersome side effect, such as dry mouth, constipation, or urinary retention (number needed to harm=16). The anticonvulsant medications pregabalin and gabapentin also effectively relieve<unk>  pain. Treatment with pregabalin leads to a reduction in pain intensity of 50% or more in one person out of every 4–5 people treated (NNT=4–5). Similarly, treatment with gabapentin also leads to a 50% reduction in pain intensity in one person out of every 7-8 people treated (NNT=7.5). Opioids such as tramadol, methadone, oxycodone, and morphine have not been well-studied for<unk>  treatment. Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are thought to be ineffective and have not undergone rigorous study for<unk> .
Postherpetic neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia
Atypical trigeminal neuralgia
Occipital neuralgia
Erythromelalgia
Morning sickness
Cold-stimulus headache
Cerebritis