UK's NICE sets national standard for neuropathic pain drug treatments in non-specialist NHS settings; guidance on angina

The UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has outlined the most effective drugs that health care professionals in general and community settings should prescribe adults with neuropathic pain, a potentially debilitating condition that affects thousands in the UK. This is the first time that a clinical guideline has been published in this area.

It has been estimated that approximately 1%-2% of adults in the UK suffer from pain with neuropathic features. It is associated with a number of conditions - such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, shingles, multiple sclerosis, and stroke - and is caused by damage or changes to nerves, including after limb amputation and other surgical operations.

Typically common painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol are ineffective at treating this, but there are other drugs available on the NHS that can help. The NICE's new clinical guideline outlines which drugs should be prescribed in non-specialist settings and in what order these treatments should be given.