[Gabapentin therapy for pain].
Gabapentin, which has been approved for add-on therapy of focal seizures, is increasingly used for treatment of neuropathic pain. Its analgesic effect is supposed to be due to reduction of glutamatergic transmission, improvement of GABAergic transmission and to binding to voltage-dependent calcium channels. Experimental studies demonstrated an ameliorating effect of gabapentin on neuropathic pain. Placebo-controlled studies revealed an efficacy of gabapentin against pain in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia and in prophylaxis of migraine. Case reports show an analgesic effect of gabapentin in trigeminus neuralgia and in reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The main adverse events are dizziness, ataxia and somnolence. Controlled studies, which compare the efficacy of gabapentin with that of the respective reference drug, are needed to evaluate its importance in treatment of pain.
Block
F
F
Neurologische Klinik der RWTH Aachen. fblock@post.klinkum.rwth-aachen.de
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000188:drug therapy; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin