Experience with oral mexiletine in primary erythromelalgia in children

We present two cases of primary erythromelalgia both of whom presented with a history of several months of severe burning pain in both hands and feet. Both patients had received multiple pain medications with no improvement in symptoms. Rain was relieved by putting affected parts in ice cold water, which resulted in immersion injury of the affected parts. Both patients stopped taking part in school and social activities. We tried oral mexiletine, a class lb antiarrythmic agent, in view of its reported role in various chronic painful conditions. Dramatic improvement was observed with its use. Both patients improved after several weeks of use, and there were fewer soaking episodes. We observed no adverse effects with mexilitine therapy. Ann Saudi Med 2009; 29(4): 316-318
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 4 Source Type: research