Gabapentin effective for some patients with chronic neuropathic pain

Gabapentin at doses of 1800–3600mg/day provided good levels of pain relief (at least 50% reduction over baseline) to some people with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Evidence for other types of neuropathic pain was very limited. In pain after shingles, 3 in 10 people had pain reduced by half or more with gabapentin and 2 in 10 with placebo. Pain was reduced by one-third or more for 5 in 10 with gabapentin and 3 in 10 with placebo. In pain caused by diabetes, 4 in 10 people had pain reduced by half or more with gabapentin and 2 in 10 with placebo. Pain was reduced by one-third or more for 5 in 10 with gabapentin and 4 in 10 with placebo. Over half of those treated with gabapentin did not have worthwhile pain relief but may have experienced adverse events.