EXPERIENCE WITH GABAPENTIN FOR NEUROPATHIC PAIN IN THE HEAD AND NECK - REPORT OF 10 CASES

Background and Objectives. Gabapentin is an oral antiepileptic agent w ith an unknown mechanism of action. Recent case reports have suggested that gabapentin may be effective in the treatment of a variety of neu ropathic pain states. This report presents baseline and follow-up data on ten patients who were treated with gabapentin when other pharmacol ogic interventions failed to relieve their neuropathic pain. Methods. Ten patients referred for treatment of unrelieved neuropathic pain in the head and neck region were included in this study. Baseline and fol lowup information included measures of pain intensity and pain quality . All of the patients were started on 300 mg gabapentin three times pe r day, though daily doses of up to 2400 mg were required for pain reli ef. Results. Eight of the ten patients had no neuropathic pain on foll ow-up, whereas the remaining 2 patients reported only partial relief a t follow-up. None of the patients complained of side effects. Gabapent in was effective in alleviating steady burning pain as well as lancina ting pain and allodynia. Conclusions. The results suggest that gabapen tin may be effective in the management of some cases of neuropathic pa in in the head and neck. However, controlled, double-blind longitudina l studies are needed to evaluate this possibility.