title: Analgesic action of gabapentin on chronic pain in the masticatory muscles: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Chronic masticatory myalgia (CMM) can be defined as constant pain in the masticatory muscles for more than 6 months and is influenced by the central nervous system. The antiepileptic agent gabapentin acts centrally and is used for managing different types of chronic pain conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic action of gabapentin on CMM. In this 12-week randomized controlled clinical trial 50 patients were randomly allocated into two study groups: 25 received gabapentin and 25 received placebo. The outcome measures utilized were pain reported on a VAS (VAS-pain), Palpation Index (PI) and impact of CMM on daily functioning reported on a VAS (VAS-function). Thirty-six patients completed the study. Gabapentin showed to be clinically and statistically superior to placebo in reducing pain reported by patients (gabapentin=51.04%; placebo=24.30%; P=0.037), masticatory muscle hyperalgesia (gabapentin=67.03%; placebo=14.37%; P=0.001) and impact of CMM on daily functioning (gabapentin=57.70%; placebo=16.92%; P=0.022). It can be concluded from this study that gabapentin is effective for the management of CMM.
authors.affiliation: TMD/Orofacial Pain Clinic, Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kimos
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.forename: Giseon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Saifudin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashiq
authors.forename: Norman M R
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Thie
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Major
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin