Gabapentin for the treatment of spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury.

Abstract	Our serendipitous observations suggested that some patients with spasticity appeared to have improved following the administration of the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin. As some patients with spasticity are either refractory to or intolerant of established medical treatments, we conducted this study to investigate the effect of gabapentin on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury. Twenty-five patients with spinal cord injury and spasticity received oral gabapentin (2400 mg over 48 h) in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. We assessed responses by measuring the Ashworth spasticity scale, muscle stretch reflexes, presence of clonus and reflex response to noxious stimuli. Patient ratings were obtained using a Likert Scale. Administration of gabapentin, but not placebo, was associated with an 11% reduction in spasticity as measured by the Ashworth Scale (P = 0.04) and by a 20% reduction in the Likert Scale (P = 0.0013). Significant changes were not obtained for the other measures. The data obtained suggest that gabapentin may be useful in the management of spasticity associated with spinal cord injury.
Authors	M Gruenthal, M Mueller, W L Olson, M M Priebe, A M Sherwood, W H Olson
Journal	Spinal cord (Spinal Cord) Vol. 35 Issue 10 Pg. 686-9 (Oct 1997) ISSN: 1362-4393 [Print] England
PMID	9347598 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
Chemical References	Acetates Amines Anticonvulsants Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Gabapentin
Topics	Acetates (therapeutic use) Administration, Oral Adult Amines Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use) Cross-Over Studies Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids Double-Blind Method Drug Administration Schedule Female Gabapentin Humans Male Middle Aged Muscle Spasticity (drug therapy, etiology) Paralysis (drug therapy, etiology) Prognosis Prospective Studies Reflex (drug effects) Reproducibility of Results Spinal Cord Injuries (complications, drug therapy) Treatment Outcome gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

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