A PILOT-STUDY OF GABAPENTIN AS TREATMENT FOR ACQUIRED NYSTAGMUS

The effects of the anticonvulsant gabapentin were measured on vision a nd eye movements in three patients with acquired pendular nystagmus. I n two patients, the nystagmus was associated with multiple sclerosis a nd, in the other, it followed brainstem stroke. A single oral 600 mg d ose of gabapentin produced improvement of vision due to changes in ocu lar oscillations in all three patients. The effect was sustained after five weeks of treatment in two patients who elected to continue takin g gabapentin 900-1500 mg/day. The results of this pilot study suggest that a controlled trial of gabapentin should be conducted to evaluate its role in the treatment of acquired forms of nystagmus.