Gabapentin (Neurontin) study

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Abstract from BMC Neurology 2004, 4:13 29 September 2004

Randomised controlled trial of gabapentin in Complex Regional Pain

Syndrome type 1

Anton C van de Vusse , Suzanne Stomp-van den Berg , Alfons HF Kessels

and Wim EJ Weber

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/4/13/abstract

Abstract (provisional)

Background

To study the efficacy of the anticonvulsant gabapentin as treatment for

pain in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS1).

Methods

We did a randomized double blind placebo controlled crossover study with

two three-weeks treatment periods with gabapentin and placebo separated

by a two-weeks washout period. Patients started at random with

gabapentin or placebo, which was administered in identical capsules

three times daily. We included 58 patients with CRPS type 1.

Results

Patients reported significant pain relief in favor of gabapentin in the

first period. Therapy effect in the second period was less; finally

resulting in no significant effect combining results of both periods.

The CRPS patients had sensory deficits at baseline. We found that this

sensory deficit was significantly reversed in gabapentin users in

comparison to placebo users.

Conclusions

Gabapentin had a mild effect on pain in CRPS I. It significantly reduced

the sensory deficit in the affected limb. A subpopulation of CRPS

patients may benefit from gabapentin.