Retigabine for neuropathic pain? 

Retigabine influences the excitability parameters of C-type nerve fibers in a paradigm based on isolated fascicles of human sural nerve.

Application of retigabine (3-10 microM) produced an increase in membrane threshold, and this points out that retigabine produces a membrane hyperpolarization which is limited by the K(+) equilibrium potential.

Kv7 channels are present on axons of unmyelinated, including nociceptive, peripheral human nerve fibers. It is likely that the affinity of retigabine for these channels may reduce the ectopic generation of action potentials in neuropathic pain, and thus making retigabine a novel candidate neuropathic analgesic drug. ^{[1] [2]}

June 2010, Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, MD, PhD 

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