Information for the public

About this information

NICE clinical guidelines advise the NHS on caring for people with specific conditions or diseases and the treatments they should receive. The information applies to people using the NHS in England and Wales.

In April 2018, we updated the advice in the guideline with warnings about sodium valproate . Sodium valproate must not be used in pregnancy, and only used in girls and women when there is no alternative and a pregnancy prevention plan is in place. This is because of the risk of malformations and developmental abnormalities in the baby.

This information explains the advice about drug treatments for neuropathic pain that is set out in NICE clinical guideline 173. It only includes drug treatments that can be offered in general practice or a general hospital setting; it does not include treatments in pain clinics or other specialist clinics.

All of the treatment and care that NICE recommends is in line with the NHS Constitution. NICE has also produced advice on improving the experience of care for adults using the NHS. For more information, see our website.

This is an update of advice on drug treatments for neuropathic pain that NICE produced in 2010.

Does this information apply to me?

Yes, if you are an adult with neuropathic pain and you are not being treated in a specialist pain clinic.

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