Introduction: Neuropathic pain is common in rheumatological practice, although often associated with nociceptive mechanisms. It is caused by lesions of the nervous system, and the usual treatments with analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs are most often ineffective. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have proven effective in relieving neuropathic pain. AEDs are hardly used by rheumatologists since only recently has attention been drawn to the importance of neuropathic pain in rheumatological conditions. The CEDR (Cercle dEtude de la Douleur en Rhumatologie), a specific interest group of the French Society of Rheumatology that focuses on rheumatic pain, aimed to develop recommendations for the use of AEDs in Rheumatology. Methods: A systematic review of the published literature was performed by a working group of seven experts from the CEDR. The search was conducted using electronic databases with no limitation on the type of publications. All studies were scored for quality. A list of questions about the prescription of AEDs in rheumatic pains was validated by the group and served to structure the recommendations. Based on the literature and the clinical experience, the recommendations were elaborated with the Delphi method. Results: The trials are scarce. We identified only nine randomized and controlled studies and six open and observational studies. These few trials, the guidelines published for neuropathic pain treatment and the clinical experience of each expert were used to develop eleven recommendations about the use of AEDS in painful rheumatic conditions. Conclusion: These recommendations represent only a guideline for the physicians meanwhile disposing more scientific evidences. . The aim of this study was to compare the cost, efficacy, and tolerability of Nimulid Ò and Tenaprost Ò . Methodology: From 06 to 11/2004, a prospective, randomized doubleblinded phase four clinical trial was conducted at the Institute of Rheumatology, the School of Medicine at the University of Belgrade. Sixty out-patients with symptomatic gonarthrosis or lumbal syndrome were randomized to receive Tenaprost Ò or Nimulid Ò (100 mg 2·/day for 20 days) according to their year of birth. In order to be eligible to participate in the study, patients had to require treatment with an analgesic or an anti-inflammatory agent. The intensity of pain, joint stiffness, and physical activity were evaluated according to the 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In those patients with gonarthrosis, a knee circumference (measured in cm across the middle of the patella), motion (flexion/extension) degree in grades, and a sensitivity of tendons to a palpation were assessed. In those patients with low back pain syndrome muscular spasm, sagital mobility (finger-floor distance in grades) and the Lequesne functional index were estimated. Adverse events reported by the patient or observed by the investigator during clinical trial were recorded. Results: At the end of treatment with Tenaprost Ò and Nimulid Ò , reduction in the pain level (P < 0.001) and knee c...