Gabapentin in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries: Difference between revisions
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Anti-epileptics are an additional pharmacological option for the treatment of pain and spasticity | Anti-epileptics are an additional pharmacological option for the treatment of pain and spasticity<ref name=":0">Sezer N, Akkuş S, Uğurlu FG. Chronic complications of spinal cord injury. ''World J Orthop''. 2015;6(1):24-33. Published 2015 Jan 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i1.24</ref>. Gabapentin is an example of an extensively studied antiepileptic drug which can be used to treat neuropathic pain in SCI<ref>Hagen, E.M. & Rekand, T. Pain Ther (2015) 4: 51. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-015-0033-y</nowiki></ref>. Neuropathic pain following an injury of the spinal cord can present above or below the level of injury. Neuropathic pain includes burning, tingling, or stabbing that is constant or intermittent. Patients may also experience hyperalgesia or allodynia in the same region<ref>Finnerup, N.B. & Baastrup, C. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2012) 16: 207. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-012-0259-x</nowiki></ref>. Gabapentin may help to decrease these symptoms in patients. | ||
Neuropathic pain occurs frequently in SCI patients and is difficult to treat due to complex nervous system changes. Antiepileptics’ mechanism of action for treating pain is not fully understood, although it is proposed to work as a GABA agonist and inhibit calcium channels. Gabapentin has a high affinity for alpha-2 receptors of calcium channels and decreases the release of excitatory neurotransmitters. | Neuropathic pain occurs frequently in SCI patients and is difficult to treat due to complex nervous system changes. Antiepileptics’ mechanism of action for treating pain is not fully understood, although it is proposed to work as a GABA agonist and inhibit calcium channels. Gabapentin has a high affinity for alpha-2 receptors of calcium channels and decreases the release of excitatory neurotransmitters. | ||
The route of administration is PO, and side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, ataxia and edema. The half-life ranges from 5-7 hours with normal renal function (Ciccone, 2013). A patient with a spinal cord injury may experience disruption in urinary function and drug elimination should be monitored | The route of administration is PO, and side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, ataxia and edema. The half-life ranges from 5-7 hours with normal renal function (Ciccone, 2013). A patient with a spinal cord injury may experience disruption in urinary function and drug elimination should be monitored<ref name=":0" />. Pain levels should be recorded using an appropriate scale to ensure the drug’s effectiveness. Taking care to schedule around daytime drowsiness may improve safety and productivity during rehab sessions. Physical therapists should use other methods of pain and spasticity management, such as physical agents, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy to aid in a patient’s recovery (Ciccone, 2013). | ||
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== Back to [[Pharmacological Management of Spinal Cord Injuries]]. == | == Back to [[Pharmacological Management of Spinal Cord Injuries]]. == | ||
Revision as of 22:26, 29 November 2018
Anti-epileptics are an additional pharmacological option for the treatment of pain and spasticity[1]. Gabapentin is an example of an extensively studied antiepileptic drug which can be used to treat neuropathic pain in SCI[2]. Neuropathic pain following an injury of the spinal cord can present above or below the level of injury. Neuropathic pain includes burning, tingling, or stabbing that is constant or intermittent. Patients may also experience hyperalgesia or allodynia in the same region[3]. Gabapentin may help to decrease these symptoms in patients.
Neuropathic pain occurs frequently in SCI patients and is difficult to treat due to complex nervous system changes. Antiepileptics’ mechanism of action for treating pain is not fully understood, although it is proposed to work as a GABA agonist and inhibit calcium channels. Gabapentin has a high affinity for alpha-2 receptors of calcium channels and decreases the release of excitatory neurotransmitters.
The route of administration is PO, and side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, ataxia and edema. The half-life ranges from 5-7 hours with normal renal function (Ciccone, 2013). A patient with a spinal cord injury may experience disruption in urinary function and drug elimination should be monitored[1]. Pain levels should be recorded using an appropriate scale to ensure the drug’s effectiveness. Taking care to schedule around daytime drowsiness may improve safety and productivity during rehab sessions. Physical therapists should use other methods of pain and spasticity management, such as physical agents, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy to aid in a patient’s recovery (Ciccone, 2013).
Back to Pharmacological Management of Spinal Cord Injuries.[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sezer N, Akkuş S, Uğurlu FG. Chronic complications of spinal cord injury. World J Orthop. 2015;6(1):24-33. Published 2015 Jan 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i1.24
- ↑ Hagen, E.M. & Rekand, T. Pain Ther (2015) 4: 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-015-0033-y
- ↑ Finnerup, N.B. & Baastrup, C. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2012) 16: 207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-012-0259-x
