Gabapentin for prevention of hypobaric hypoxia-induced headache: randomized double-blind clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
High-altitude headache (HAH) is a hypobaric hypoxia-induced symptom that is commonly experienced by newcomers to high-altitude areas.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of gabapentin in the prevention of HAH.


METHODS
A placebo-controlled randomised trial was performed at an altitude of 3500 m. Two hundred and four unacclimatised 15-65-year-old (mean age (+/-SD), 31.5 (SD 11.7)) hotel guests were randomly assigned to a 600 mg single-dose of gabapentin capsule or identical placebo. HAH incidence and intensity were measured to assess gabapentin efficacy. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed.


RESULTS
HAH incidence was not significantly different between subjects under gabapentin (44 (43.1%)) compared with placebo (56 (54.9%); p = 0.09). In contrast, moderate/severe HAH had a lower incidence in the gabapentin group (27 (26.5%)) versus the placebo group (42 (41.2%)), showing that gabapentin reduced HAH attack intensity (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Gabapentin was effective for the prevention of HAH and had satisfactory tolerability.


BACKGROUND
ISRCTN26123577.
Jafarian
S
S
Department of Neurology, Shariati Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. jafarian_s@yahoo.com
Abolfazli
R
R
Gorouhi
F
F
Rezaie
S
S
Lotfi
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000150:complications*; D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin