J Korean Pain Soc.  1999 May;12(1):119-122.

The Effect of IV Infusion of Phenytoin for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

• Lee YB
• Yoon KB
• Lee KH
• Han YK

Abstract

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare syndrome that involves episodic bursts of pain in the sensory distributuion of the ninth cranial nerve. The nature of the pain is characterized by excruciating shock-like pain in the region of the tonsillar fossa or pharynx and can radiate to the ear or the angle of the jaw. Like trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia typically responds to anticonvulsant agents such as carbamazepine. However, dose of carbamazepine needs to be increased gradually to avoid side effects, If the patient can not tolerate until effective carbamazepine level is reached, phenytoin can be administered intravenously at the same time that oral carbamazepine therapy is begun. We present fifty-three year old female patient suffering from glossopharyngeal neuralgia who did not respond to initial carbamazepine therapy, but responded to concomitant intravenous infusion of phenytoin.

Keyword

Analgesics, intravenous; Anticonvulsants, phenytoin; Pain, glossopharyngeal neuralgia

MeSH Terms

Carbamazepine
Ear
Female
Glossopharyngeal Nerve
Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases*
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Jaw
Pharynx
Phenytoin*
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Carbamazepine
Phenytoin