Anaesthetists Handbook - MEDICAL EDUCATION at University ...

Gabapentin in acute painSide-effectsMild to moderate somnolence.CautionIn patients with significant renal or hepatic impairment.Recommended doseGabapentin is presented as capsules of 100 mg, 300 mg and400 mg; also tablets of 600 mg and 800 mg.A single dose of oral gabapentin 600 mg to 1200 mg one or twohours before surgery has been shown to significantly reducepostoperative opioid consumption.A useful regime from the University of Western Ontario, Canada isoral gabapentin 300 mg three times a day, preferably to be startedpreoperatively. The duration of treatment can be three to seven daysdepending on the surgery and intensity of pain.There is no need for gradual weaning of GBP when used to treatacute pain.ConclusionPerioperative gabapentin is a useful adjunct for the management ofacute pain. It provides analgesia through a different mechanism thanopioids and other analgesics. It is generally well tolerated withminimal drug interactions.Further reading• Dierking. Effects of gabapentin on postoperative morphineconsumption and pain after abdominal hysterectomy: Arandomized, double-blind trial. Acta AnaesthesiologicaScandinavica 2004; 48(3): 322-7• Dogan Erol. The effect of oral gabapentin on postdural punctureheadache. Acute Pain 2006; 8(4): 169-73Anaesthetists Handbook January 2010 175