There are some challenging restrictions to Section 8 coverage for coverage of neuropathic pain medications. We believe that these restrictions do negatively impact patient care. We hope that by empowering those living with neuropathic pain we can increase the scope of approved medications. Two currently approved medications and their criteria are:
- Gabapentin:
- diagnosis of neuropathic pain
- after failure of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), or carbamazepine, or phenytoin (note that gabapentin is only approved by Health Canada as an adjunctive therapy for seizure disorders. In Ontario, patients can access gabapentin under Limited Use Code 136 for that indication.)
- Lyrica (pregabalin):
- diagnosis of neuropathic pain
- after failure (ineffective or intolerable side effects) of an adequate trial of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and an adequate trial of gabapentin