Gabapentin for Chronic Neuropathic Pain

JAMA. 2018 Feb 27;319(8):818-819. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.21547.

Abstract

Clinical question: Is gabapentin associated with pain relief in people with chronic neuropathic pain?

Bottom line: Oral gabapentin (1200-3600 mg/d for 4-12 weeks) for patients with moderate or severe neuropathic pain from postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is associated with pain reduction of at least 50% in 14% to 17% more patients than placebo.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Amines / adverse effects
  • Amines / therapeutic use*
  • Analgesics / adverse effects
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / adverse effects
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / drug therapy*
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Neuralgia, Postherpetic / drug therapy*
  • Off-Label Use
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / adverse effects
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Amines
  • Analgesics
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Gabapentin