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Case Reports
. 2007 May;78(5):539-41.
doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2006.096388.

Gabapentin in the management of dysautonomia following severe traumatic brain injury: a case series

Ian J Baguley  1 , Roxana E Heriseanu, Joseph A Gurka, Annette Nordenbo, Ian D Cameron
Affiliations
Case Reports

Gabapentin in the management of dysautonomia following severe traumatic brain injury: a case series

Ian J Baguley et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 May.

Abstract

The pharmacological management of dysautonomia, otherwise known as autonomic storms, following acute neurological insults, is problematic and remains poorly researched. This paper presents six subjects with dysautonomia following extremely severe traumatic brain injury where gabapentin controlled paroxysmal autonomic changes and posturing in the early post-acute phase following limited success with conventional medication regimens. In two subjects, other medications were reduced or ceased without a recurrence of symptoms. It is proposed that medications that can block or minimise abnormal afferent stimuli may represent a better option for dysautonomia management than drugs which increase inhibition of efferent pathways. Potential mechanisms for these effects are discussed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

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