Efficacy Of Gabapentin In Patients Research Articles

Efficacy of gabapentin for low back pain at a tertiary hospital

Objective: To assess the efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of low back pain patients. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 6 months to assess the efficacy of gabapentin in patients suffering from low back pain. Past medical history, pain severity by Visual Analogue scale (VAS) and sleep quality by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) were collected. VAS scores and PQSI scores before and after gabapentin treatment were compared, and gabapentin satisfaction post treatment were recorded. Results: This study included 100 low back pain patients with 65 males and 35 females, and the mean age was (39.0±10.5) years. The commonest presentation was non-radiating low back pain (40%). The mean VAS score and the mean PQSI score in the study before treatment were 7.70±1.91 and 10.95±5.02, respectively. After treatment with gabapentin, the mean VAS score and the mean PQSI score decreased to 2.75±1.79 and 4.90±2.20, respectively, and the differences before and after the treatment were significantly different (both P=0.001). Overall, 62% of the patients were extremely satisfied with gabapentin because they reported no adverse drug reaction. Besides, 31% of the patients were satisfied and 7%were strongly dissatisfied with the therapy. Conclusion: Gabapentin can improve sleep quality and reduce lower back pain as measured by the VAS and PQSI. The efficacy of this drug is relatively good, but further improvement is required.

The Efficacy of Gabapentin in Patients with Central Post-stroke Pain.

Thalamic pain syndrome, a type of central post-stroke pain (CPSP), may develops after a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke and results in impairment of the thalamus. There is limited experience aboutgabapentinin treatment of centralpainslike CPSP. In a prospective observational study, the intensity of pain was recorded using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at the entrance to the study. Patients eligible for treating with gabapentin, received gabapentin 300 mg twice-daily. The pain intensity was measured at entrance to the study and after one month using NRS. Decrease of 3 points from the initial NRS considered being clinically significant. From a total of 180 primarily screened patients, 84 (44 men and 40 women) were recruited. There was a significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment NRS (5.9 ± 2.51 vs. 4.7 ± 3.01; 95% CI: 0.442-1.962, p = 0.002). Fisher's exact test showed no statistically significant effect of clinical and demographic characteristics of patients on their therapeutic response to gabapentin. Given the safety, efficacy, well tolerability and lack of interaction with other drugs we suggest gabapentin to be more considered as a first line therapy or as add-on therapy for reducing the pain severity in patients with thalamic syndrome.

The Efficacy of Gabapentin in Patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Objective: Failed back syndrome is a common clinical syndrome that is seen after lumbar disc herniation operations. In this study, we planned to investigate the effects of gabapentin in the treatment of failed back syndrome. Material and Methods: The study included 47 patients who had been operated on because of LDH. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=24) had been treated with gabapentin (300 mgr-3000 mgr/daily) and a lumbar exercise program, and Group 2 (n=23) received only the home exercise program. Patients were assessed by means of range of motion, Schober test, straight leg test, and pain and functional capacity. Pain was evaluated by visual analog scale and neuropathic pain scale. Functional capacity was assessed by Oswestry scale. Assessments were done before and after first and third month of the therapy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.7±12.3 (24-81) years. In Group 1, 16 patients (70%) had been operated on at the L4-L5 level, and in Group 2, 10 patients (44%) had been operated on at the L4-L5 level. There was a statistically significant improvement in Oswestry scale scores in Group 1 and Group 2 (p 0.05). Conclusion: Gabapentin treatment was found to be effective, especially for functional capacity and pain, in failed back syndrome patients.

Gabapentin for refractory chronic cough: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Refractory chronic cough causes substantial symptoms and quality-of-life impairment. Similarities between central reflex sensitisation in refractory chronic cough and neuropathic pain suggest that neuromodulators such as gabapentin might be effective for refractory chronic cough. We established the efficacy of gabapentin in patients with refractory chronic cough. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken at an outpatient clinic in Australia. Adults with refractory chronic cough (>8 weeks' duration) without active respiratory disease or infection were randomly assigned to receive gabapentin (maximum tolerable daily dose of 1800 mg) or matching placebo for 10 weeks. Block randomisation was done with randomisation generator software, stratified by sex. Patients and investigators were masked to assigned treatment. The primary endpoint was change in cough-specific quality of life (Leicester cough questionnaire [LCQ] score) from baseline to 8 weeks of treatment, analysed by intention to treat. This study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12608000248369. 62 patients were randomly assigned to gabepentin (n=32) or placebo (n=30) and ten patients withdrew before the study end. Gabapentin significantly improved cough-specific quality of life compared with placebo (between-group difference in LCQ score during treatment period 1·80, 95% CI 0·56-3·04; p=0·004; number needed to treat of 3·58). Side-effects occurred in ten patients (31%) given gabapentin (the most common being nausea and fatigue) and three (10%) given placebo. The treatment of refractory chronic cough with gabapentin is both effective and well tolerated. These positive effects suggest that central reflex sensitisation is a relevant mechanism in refractory chronic cough. National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.

The efficacy and safety of gabapentin in carpal tunnel patients: Open label trial

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy caused by median nerve compression at the wrist. It results in loss of considerable man days and the effectiveness the various treatment modalities are still debated. To study the efficacy of gabapentin in patients with CTS. The study aim is to investigate the efficacy of gabapentin in patients with CTS patients who were refractory to the other conservative measures or unwilling for the surgical procedure. Forty one patients diagnosed as idiopathic CTS were included in the study. Patients were assessed with symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS) scores of Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) before and at 1, 3, and 6 months of the treatment. Response to therapy was determined by using SSS and FSS scores of BCTQ. The median dosage of gabapentin was 1800 mg/daily. Side effects were mild and transient. There was a statistically significant difference in both symptom SSS and FSS scores between before and after treatment in patient groups at the end of six months (P < 0.001). According to grading the changes in subscales of BCTQ, of 41 patients, 34.1 and 29.3 had a >or= 40% decrease in SSS and FSS, respectively. Gabapentin was found to be partially effective and safe in symptomatic treatment of CTS patients.

Effect of add‐on gabapentin on opioid withdrawal symptoms in opium‐dependent patients

Evaluation of the efficacy of gabapentin in patients undergoing out-patient treatment for opiate withdrawal. A 3-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive gabapentin in methadone-assisted detoxification (MAD). Specialized Addictive Behaviors Unit, an out-patient unit for the treatment of patients with an addictive disorder serving the city of Isfahan (Iran). Forty out-patients, 37 males and three females, aged 21-61 years, who met DSM-IV criteria for opiate dependence. Random assignment of subjects to receive adjunctive treatment with either gabapentin (900 mg/day) or placebo under double-blind conditions. Severity of subjective withdrawal symptoms using the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale at six stages. Despite the superiority of gabapentin on controlling some of withdrawal symptoms, no significant differences were reported between two groups. Dosage of 900 mg/day of gabapentin is not significantly superior to placebo in controlling opiate withdrawal symptoms.

The Efficacy of Gabapentin in Patients with Failed Back Surgery: A Prospective Case Series

Objective: Failed back surgery syndrome [FBSS] causes persistent low back problems in approximately 15 percent of patients who undergo spinal surgery for lumbar disc herniation. As reported by recent clinical data, gabapentin, an antiepileptic agent, is increasingly being used for chronic pain, with a favorable side effect profile. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of gabapentin in patients with FBSS associated chronic back painMethods: Nine patients with chronic back pain diagnosed with FBSS according to clinical, lumbar spinal magnetic resonance imaging and electrodiagnostic findings were studied. Each patient received titrated dosage of gabapentin from 900 to 2400 mg/day. Pretreatment levels of pain and the degree of disability were measured using a visual analog scale and the Oswestry disability index. All nine patients were re-evaluated at six weeks and six monthsResults: Eight of nine patients reported significant decrease in pain and disability scores at six weeks and six months...

The effectiveness of gabapentin in patients with chronic radiculopathy

This study was carried out to determine the efficacy of gabapentin in patients with radiculopathy. Fifty patients (32 women, 18 men) with lumbosciatalgia secondary to L5 or S1 radiculopathy were evaluated. MRI showed L4-5 and/or L5-S1 bulging and/or protrusion without significant spinal stenosis. Baseline assessments for each patient included a standard neurological examination and radiological investigation. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: group 1 was treated with oral gabapentin from a total of 900 mg per day up a total of 3600 mg per day divided in 3 doses; group 2 received placebo for the 8-week trial period. In group 1 we observed statistically significant improvement in pain at rest (p < 0.001), motor function (p < 0.01), limitation of spinal flexion (p < 0.001), straight leg raising test (p < 0.001) and sensory function (p < 0.001). Stretch reflexes instead did not significantly change. In group 2 we observed significant improvement in all clinical parameters, muscle strength and stretch reflexes excluded. The results of group 1 were significantly better than those of group 2.