Chronic pain is an unbearable problem for many, but some find reprieve through alternate methods. For some, these
methods include techniques, acupuncture or physical therapy, but others manage their pain through the use of
varying types of medicine. Antidepressants have been used not just for treating depression and anxiety, but they
have also been used for pain management.
When one thinks of antidepressants, they may quickly think of drugs like Prozac, but researchers have
developed lines of newer, cleaner antidepressants. These antidepressants may include Ciprolex and Cymbalta. One
could also ask their doctor about Gabapentin, which is an antiepileptic drug, for their pain management.
Antidepressants are not used for every type of pain management. Most often, they are used to treat neuropathic
pain disorders such as damage to the nerves or the peripheral nervous system. Antidepressant drugs are particularly
effective in treatment of these conditions because they act on the central nervous system, which is related to
one’s nerves.
Gabapentin is a very commonly prescribed medication for the off-label use of pain management. In particular,
it is used to treat neuropathic pain because of its direct relationship with the central nervous system. In
particular, it helps people who live with post-operative chronic pain, nerve pain associated with a spinal cord
injury, migraine headaches and reduces pain in multiple sclerosis patients. The drug is prescribed for other uses,
such as smoking cessation, restless legs syndrome and hot flashes.