title: A double-blind controlled study of gabapentin and baclofen as treatment for acquired nystagmus.
abstract: We conducted a double-blind crossover trial comparing gabapentin (up to 900 mg/day) to baclofen (up to 30 mg/day) as therapy for acquired nystagmus in 21 patients. We measured visual acuity and the nystagmus before, and at the end of, 2 weeks on each medication. For a group of 15 patients with acquired pendular nystagmus (APN), visual acuity improved significantly with gabapentin, but not with baclofen. Gabapentin significantly reduced APN median eye speed in all three planes, but baclofen did so only in the vertical plane. In 10 patients with APN, the reduction of nystagmus with gabapentin was substantial and 8 of these elected to continue taking the drug. In 6 patients with downbeat or torsional downbeat nystagmus, changes in median slow-phase eye speed were less consistent with both drugs, either increasing or decreasing, and being dependent on viewing conditions. Only 1 patient showed consistent reduction of median eye speed, and this was achieved by either drug. Our findings suggest that gabapentin may be an effective treatment for many patients with APN and that occasional patients with downbeat nystagmus will respond to gabapentin or baclofen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Averbuch-Heller
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Tusa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuhry
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Rottach
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ganser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heide
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Leigh
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018755:GABA Agonists; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D001418:Baclofen