Crossover trial of gabapentin and memantine as treatment for acquired nystagmus.
We conducted a masked, crossover, therapeutic trial of gabapentin (1,200mg/day) versus memantine (40 mg/day) for acquired nystagmus in 10 patients (aged 28-61 years; 7 female; 3 multiple sclerosis [MS]; 6 post-stroke; 1 post-traumatic). Nystagmus was pendular in 6 patients (4 oculopalatal tremor; 2 MS) and jerk upbeat, hemi-seesaw, torsional, or upbeat-diagonal in each of the others. For the group, both drugs reduced median eye speed (p < 0.001), gabapentin by 32.8% and memantine by 27.8%, and improved visual acuity (p < 0.05). Each patient improved with 1 or both drugs. Side effects included unsteadiness with gabapentin and lethargy with memantine. Both drugs should be considered as treatment for acquired forms of nystagmus.
Thurtell
Matthew J
MJ
Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland OH, USA.
Joshi
Anand C
AC
Leone
Alice C
AC
Tomsak
Robert L
RL
Kosmorsky
Gregory S
GS
Stahl
John S
JS
Leigh
R John
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D008559:Memantine