Annually, 13 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia is described as a sharp and intense pain that can occur in the face or mouth. The pain is often so awful that it can have some long lasting psychosocial effects on an individual.
Usually, the pain is prompted by small daily tasks. For some people, it can occur from just taking a shower or brushing their teeth. There is not one distinct manner in which the pain presents itself. Shaving can bring about the pain in one person, whereas applying makeup could be a trigger for another person. The pain is caused by exasperation of the trigeminal nerve.
An international study was recently conducted to test a new drug. It is the first drug to specifically target trigeminal neuralgia.
The new substance is called BIIB074. The drug will help bring the pain to a more bearable level in those who suffer from it. Some side effects from past treatments have included tiredness and fatigue. Furthermore, some patients have reported that they were not able to concentrate, while on standard drugs.
Thus far, BIIB074 has been proven to be more effective and tolerable than other treatments. There will need to be more research, but it seems promising.
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