Intravenous chlormethiazole in the management of primary trigeminal neuralgia resistant to conventional therapy.

The therapeutic efficacy of 0.8% chlormethiazole, administered as 3-10 intravenous infusions each lasting 5-6 h on alternate days, was assessed in an uncontrolled study of 16 patients, aged 44-82 years, with primary trigeminal neuralgia. Prior to entry into the study, patients showed a high frequency of neuralgic paroxysms (20-70 attacks/day) which were refractory to high dosages (1600-2000 mg/day) of carbamazepine.