Efficacy of oral pranlukast hydrate, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the analgesic effect of pranlukast hydrate (PH), a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Twenty patients with PHN whose pain reached a plateau after 3 or more months received oral administration of PH at doses of 450 mg/day for 1 month. Visual analogue scales of rest pain, tactile allodynia, and paroxysmal pain were significantly reduced at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month after the beginning of oral administration. The analgesic effect was better in patients suffering from PHN for 1 year or more than in the others. This suggests that leukotrienes may play a role in PHN.