The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing phenytoin or phenytoin sodium for use in topical pain relief. Said use of the pharmaceutical composition of the invention reduces peripheral neuropathic pain. The topical pharmaceutical compositions of the invention containing phenytoin or phenytoin sodium, surprisingly reduce peripheral neuropathic pain considerably, especially and preferably in the conditions, characterized by a low to moderate grade of peripheral neurogenic inflammation, such as small fiber neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminus neuralgia, chemotherapy induced polyneuropathy, traumatic neuropathies, compression neuropathies, and infectious neuropathies in remission, according to the invention.
