Future Directions in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: A Review on Various Therapeutic Targets

Matharasala      Gangadhar; Ram   Kumar   Mishra; Dharmarajan      Sriram; Perumal      Yogeeswari

doi:10.2174/18715273113126660192

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is caused by structural lesion leading to functional abnormalities in central and peripheral nervous system. Neuropathic pain in itself is not always a disease, as it arises due to consequences of other diseases like diabetes, spinal cord injury, degenerative neuronal diseases and cancer. Current strategies of neuropathic pain treatment have provided relief to the patients to some extent, but complete cure is still a distant dream. In the future, it is hoped that a combination of new and improved pharmaceutical developments combined with careful clinical trials and increased understanding of neuroplasticity will lead to improved and effective pain management strategies leading to improved quality of life. In this review we have discussed various therapeutic targets of neuropathic pain and their pathophysiological mechanisms. Current status of drugs used for treatment of neuropathic pain have also been discussed in the review.

Keywords: Antidepressants, ion channels, microglia, neuropathic pain, neurotrophins, protein kinase M zeta, rho kinase.

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