Effect of gabapentin on nausea induced by chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

In an anecdotal report, complete resolution of chemotherapy-induced nausea was seen in a patient with breast cancer, after she was placed on the anticonvulsant gabapentin. On this basis, we did an open-label study in which oral gabapentin 300 mg thrice daily was given for every other chemotherapy treatment in nine patients with breast cancer. Six of the nine reported at least a three-point improvement in peak delayed nausea (on an eight-point nausea scale), and three patients had complete resolution of nausea when taking gabapentin. This preliminary evidence shows that gabapentin might have a role in treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea.