A drug used to prevent seizures can improve pain relief for some people taking opioids for cancer pain, according to recent research. There have been reports that the new-generation anti-convulsant, gabapentin is effective when used in combination with opioid painkillers. The researchers from the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy, studied 121 patients with nerve-type cancer pain, which was partially relieved with opioid drugs. While remaining on their opioid medication, the participants were randomly assigned to additional treatment with gabapentin or an inactive placebo. Extra opioid doses were supplied as needed. Overall, 89 patients completed the ten-day study. Average pain scores on a 10-point scale were significantly different between patients taking gabapentin (4.6) and those given the placebo (5.4). Moreover, use of supplementary opioid doses was higher and more frequent among placebo patients. The researchers concluded that the findings demonstrated a limited role of gabapentin as adjunct to opioids for neuropathic cancer pain. Nevertheless, significant benefits could be seen in some patients.
Journal of Clinical Oncology ,
June 2004