Abstract: The invention relates to methods of producing analgesia, particularly in the treatment-of-acute and persistent pain and neuropathic pain. The compound 2(ethylamino)-N-(3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl) acetamide, or 3-hydroxymonoethylglycinexylidide (3-hydroxy MEGX), is shown to provide analgesia in settings of acute, persistent and neuropathic pain.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for alleviating pain (in particular, neuropathic pain) in a mammalian patient, wherein an effective amount of a physiologically-acceptable salt of a compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, acyl, alkoxyl, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyaryl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl and NR.sup.8 R.sup.9, in which each of R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, acyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyaryl, alkoxyalkyl and alkoxyaryl, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is hydroxyl;each of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen and lower alkyl;A is --C(.dbd.O)O-- or NR.sup.10 C(.dbd.O)--, in which R.sup.