Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Which medication is often not used for neuropathic pain?

1. Gabapentin

2. Aspirin

3. Duloxetine

4. Pregabalin

The correct answer is: Aspirin

Aspirin is often not used for neuropathic pain due to its mechanism of action, which primarily addresses inflammatory and nociceptive pain rather than the abnormal pain processing seen in neuropathic conditions. Neuropathic pain often results from nerve injury or dysfunction, leading to altered signal transmission in the nervous system. Medications that are effective for managing neuropathic pain typically include those that modify nerve transmission, such as gabapentin, duloxetine, and pregabalin. Gabapentin and pregabalin are both anticonvulsants that specifically target calcium channels in the nervous system, which can help mitigate neuropathic pain signals. Duloxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) effective in treating chronic pain by influencing neurotransmitter levels that regulate pain pathways. In contrast, aspirin does not have these neurological effects and is more focused on analgesia related to inflammation, making it less suitable for neuropathic pain management.