Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Apr 27;2014(4):CD007938.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub3.

Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in adults

R Andrew Moore  1 , Philip J Wiffen, Sheena Derry, Thomas Toelle, Andrew S C Rice
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in adults

R Andrew Moore et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Update in

  • Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.
    Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Bell RF, Rice AS, Tölle TR, Phillips T, Moore RA. Wiffen PJ, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jun 9;6(6):CD007938. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub4. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017. PMID: 28597471 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Background: This review is an update of a review published in 2011, itself a major update of previous reviews published in 2005 and 2000, investigating the effects of gabapentin in chronic neuropathic pain (pain due to nerve damage). Antiepileptic drugs are used to manage chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

Objectives: To assess the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of gabapentin in chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

Search methods: We identified randomised trials of gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia by searching the databases MEDLINE (1966 to March 2014), EMBASE (1980 to 2014 week 10), and CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library (Issue 3 of 12, 2014). We obtained clinical trial reports and synopses of published and unpublished studies from Internet sources, and searched Clinicaltrials.gov. Searches were run originally in 2011 and the date of the most recent search was 17 March 2014.

Selection criteria: Randomised, double-blind studies reporting the analgesic and adverse effects of gabapentin in neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia with assessment of pain intensity, pain relief, or both, using validated scales. Participants were adults.

Data collection and analysis: Three review authors independently extracted efficacy and adverse event data, examined issues of study quality, and assessed risk of bias. We performed analysis using three tiers of evidence. First tier evidence derived from data meeting current best standards and subject to minimal risk of bias (outcome equivalent to substantial pain intensity reduction, intention-to-treat analysis without imputation for dropouts; at least 200 participants in the comparison, 8 to 12 weeks duration, parallel design), second tier from data that failed to meet one or more of these criteria and were considered at some risk of bias but with adequate numbers in the comparison, and third tier from data involving small numbers of participants that were considered very likely to be biased or used outcomes of limited clinical utility, or both.For efficacy, we calculated the number needed to treat to benefit (NNT), concentrating on at least 50% pain intensity reduction, and Initiative on Methods, Measurement and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) definitions of at least moderate and substantial benefit. For harm we calculated number needed to treat for harm (NNH) for adverse effects and withdrawal. Meta-analysis was undertaken using a fixed-effect model. We emphasised differences between conditions now defined as neuropathic pain, and other conditions like masticatory pain, complex regional painsyndrome type 1 (CRPS-1), and fibromyalgia.

Main results: Seven new studies with 1919 participants were added. Another report (147 participants) provided results for a study already included, but which previously had no usable data. A further report (170 participants) used an experimental formulation of intrathecal gabapentin. Thirty-seven studies (5633 participants) studied oral gabapentin at daily doses of 1200 mg or more in 12 chronic pain conditions; 84% of participants were in studies of postherpetic neuralgia, painful diabetic neuropathy or mixed neuropathic pain. There was no first tier evidence.Second tier evidence for the outcome of at least 50% pain intensity reduction, considered valuable by patients with chronic pain, showed that gabapentin was significantly better than placebo in postherpetic neuralgia (34% gabapentin versus 21% placebo; NNT 8.0, 95% CI 6.0 to 12) and painful diabetic neuropathy (38% versus 21%, NNT 5.9, 95% CI 4.6 to 8.3). There was insufficient information in other pain conditions to reach any reliable conclusion. There was no obvious difference between standard gabapentin formulations and recently-introduced extended-release or gastro-retentive formulations, or between different doses of gabapentin.Adverse events occurred significantly more often with gabapentin. Persons taking gabapentin could expect to have at least one adverse event (62%), withdraw because of an adverse event (11%), suffer dizziness (19%), somnolence (14%), peripheral oedema (7%), and gait disturbance (9%). Serious adverse events (3%) were no more common than with placebo.There were insufficient data for direct comparisons with other active treatments, and only third tier evidence for other painful conditions.

Authors' conclusions: There was no top tier evidence that was unequivocally unbiased. Second tier evidence, with potentially important residual biases, showed that gabapentin at doses of 1200 mg or more was effective for some people with some painful neuropathic pain conditions. The outcome of at least 50% pain intensity reduction is regarded as a useful outcome of treatment by patients, and the achievement of this degree of pain relief is associated with important beneficial effects on sleep interference, fatigue, and depression, as well as quality of life, function, and work. About 35% achieved this degree of pain relief with gabapentin, compared with 21% for placebo. Over half of those treated with gabapentin will not have worthwhile pain relief. Results might vary between different neuropathic pain conditions, and the amount of evidence for gabapentin in neuropathic pain conditions except postherpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy, and in fibromyalgia, is very limited.The levels of efficacy found for gabapentin are consistent with those found for other drug therapies in postherpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

SD and PW have received research support from charities, government and industry sources at various times.

RAM has consulted for various pharmaceutical companies and received lecture fees from pharmaceutical companies related to analgesics and other healthcare interventions, including (in the past five years) AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Flynn Pharma, Furtura Medical, Grünenthal, GSK, Horizon Pharma, Lundbeck, Menarini, MSD, Pfizer, Reckitt Benckiser, Sanofi Aventis, Urgo, Astellas, Novartis, and Vifor Pharma.

TRT has consulted for various pharmaceutical companies and received lecture fees from pharmaceutical companies related to chronic pain and analgesics, including (in the past five years) Allergan, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Boeringer, Eli Lilly, Grünenthal, GSK, Janssen‐Cilag, Pfizer, Mundipharma.TRT is an Principal Investigator in the EuroPain consortium. EuroPain has received support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement n° 115007, a European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/20072013) and EFPIA companies (www.imieuropain.org). TRT is a site investigator for the Neuropain project, funded by Pfizer.

ASCR undertakes Consultancy work through Imperial College Consultants. In last two years this has included work for Astellas, Spinifex and Servier. ASCR has share options in Spinifex. ASCR is a Principal Investigator in the EuroPain consortium. EuroPain has received support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement n° 115007, resources for which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/20072013) and EFPIA companies (www.imieuropain.org). Specifically, research funding for ASCR’s laboratory has been received from Pfizer and Astellas. ASCR is a site investigator for the Neuropain project, funded by Pfizer.ASCR is Chair of the IASP Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (www.neupsig.org). ASCR serves on the Executive Committee of ACTTION (Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks; www.acttion.org).

None of the authors have received any funds from any company with an interest in gabapentin for research on gabapentin, and none from any source for the production of this review.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Methodological quality graph: review authors' judgements about each methodological quality item presented as percentages across all included studies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Methodological quality summary: review authors' judgements about each methodological quality item for each included study.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of comparison: 1 All placebo‐controlled studies, outcome: 1.1 At least 50% pain reduction over baseline.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot of comparison: 1 All placebo‐controlled studies, outcome: 1.2 Very much improved.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forest plot of comparison: 1 All placebo‐controlled studies, outcome: 1.3 Much or very much improved.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Forest plot of comparison: 1 All placebo‐controlled studies, outcome: 1.4 IMMPACT outcome of substantial improvement.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Forest plot of comparison: 1 All placebo‐controlled studies, outcome: 1.5 IMMPACT outcome of at least moderate improvement.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Postherpetic neuralgia: Percentage of participants achieving at least 50% pain intensity reduction (PIR) over baseline with gabapentin 1200‐3600 mg daily, or placebo
Figure 10
Figure 10
Painful diabetic neuropathy: Percentage of participants achieving at least 50% pain intensity reduction (PIR) over baseline with gabapentin 1200‐3600 mg daily, or placebo
Analysis 1.1
Analysis 1.1
Comparison 1 Efficacy ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 1 At least 50% pain reduction over baseline.
Analysis 1.2
Analysis 1.2
Comparison 1 Efficacy ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 2 Very much improved.
Analysis 1.3
Analysis 1.3
Comparison 1 Efficacy ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 3 Much or very much improved.
Analysis 1.4
Analysis 1.4
Comparison 1 Efficacy ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 4 IMMPACT outcome of substantial improvement.
Analysis 1.5
Analysis 1.5
Comparison 1 Efficacy ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 5 IMMPACT outcome of at least moderate improvement.
Analysis 2.1
Analysis 2.1
Comparison 2 Withdrawals ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 1 All‐cause withdrawal.
Analysis 2.2
Analysis 2.2
Comparison 2 Withdrawals ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 2 Adverse event withdrawal.
Analysis 2.3
Analysis 2.3
Comparison 2 Withdrawals ‐ placebo‐controlled studies, Outcome 3 Lack of efficacy withdrawal.
Analysis 3.1
Analysis 3.1
Comparison 3 Adverse events, Outcome 1 At least one adverse event.
Analysis 3.2
Analysis 3.2
Comparison 3 Adverse events, Outcome 2 Serious adverse events.
Analysis 3.3
Analysis 3.3
Comparison 3 Adverse events, Outcome 3 Somnolence.
Analysis 3.4
Analysis 3.4
Comparison 3 Adverse events, Outcome 4 Dizziness.
Analysis 3.5
Analysis 3.5
Comparison 3 Adverse events, Outcome 5 Peripheral oedema.
Analysis 3.6
Analysis 3.6
Comparison 3 Adverse events, Outcome 6 Ataxia or gait disturbance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Update of

References

References to studies included in this review

    1. Arnold LM, Goldenberg DL, Stanford SB, Lalonde JK, Sandhu HS, Keck PE Jr, et al. Gabapentin in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter trial. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2007;56(4):1336‐44. [DOI: 10.1002/art.22457] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Trial summary ‐ Parke Davis/Pfizer 945‐210. Unpublished report.
    2. Backonja M, Beydoun A, Edwards KR, Schwartz SL, Fonseca V, Hes M, et al. Gabapentin for the symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1998;280(21):1831‐6. [PUBMED: 9846777] - PubMed
    1. Backonja MM, Canafax DM, Cundy KC. Efficacy of gabapentin enacarbil vs placebo in patients with postherpetic neuralgia and a pharmacokinetic comparison with oral gabapentin. Pain Medicine 2011;12(7):1098‐108. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01139.x] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bone M, Critchley P, Buggy DJ. Gabapentin in postamputation phantom limb pain: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2002;27(5):481‐6. [DOI: 10.1053/rapm.2002.35169] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Caraceni A, Zecca E, Bonezzi C, Arcuri E, Yaya Tur R, et al. Gabapentin for neuropathic cancer pain: a randomized controlled trial from the Gabapentin Cancer Pain Study Group. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2004;22(14):2909‐17. [DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2004.08.141] - DOI - PubMed

References to studies excluded from this review

    1. Arai YC, Matsubara T, Shimo K, Suetomi K, Nishihara M, Ushida T, et al. Low‐dose gabapentin as useful adjuvant to opioids for neuropathic cancer pain when combined with low‐dose imipramine. Journal of Anesthesia 2010;24(3):407‐10. [DOI: 10.1007/s00540-010-0913-6] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Berry JD, Petersen KL. A single dose of gabapentin reduces acute pain and allodynia in patients with herpes zoster. Neurology 2005;65(3):444‐7. [PUBMED: 16087911] - PubMed
    1. Dallocchio C, Buffa C, Mazzarello P, Chiroli S. Gabapentin vs. amitriptyline in painful diabetic neuropathy: an open‐label pilot study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2000;20(4):280‐5. [DOI: 10.1016/S0885-3924(00)00181-0] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dworkin RH, Barbano RL, Tyring SK, Betts RF, McDermott MP, Pennella‐Vaughan J, et al. A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of oxycodone and of gabapentin for acute pain in herpes zoster. Pain 2009;142(3):209‐17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2008.12.022] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Jean WH, Wu CC, Mok MS, Sun WZ. Starting dose of gabapentin for patients with post‐herpetic neuralgia‐‐a dose‐response study. Acta Anaesthesiologica Taiwan 2005;43(2):73‐7. [PUBMED: 16060401] - PubMed

References to ongoing studies

    1. Fleckenstein J, Kramer S, Hoffrogge P, Thoma S, Lang PM, Lehmeyer L, et al. Acupuncture in acute herpes zoster pain therapy (ACUZoster) ‐ design and protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2009;9:31. [DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-9-31] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Vasheghani M (contact person). Effect of gabapentin on heart rate variability in diabetic painful peripheral neuropathy: a double blinded randomized clinical trial. ICTRP Search Portal (http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/default.aspx).
    1. A Study Of The Efficacy Of Gabapentin In Neuropathic Pain Patients As Measured By Quantitative Sensory Testing. www.clinicaltrials.gov. [NCT: NCT00674687]
    1. A Study Of Lidocaine Patch 5% Alone, Gabapentin Alone, And Lidocaine Patch 5% And Gabapentin In Combination For The Relief Of Pain In Patients With Diverse Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Conditions. www.clinicaltrials.gov. [NCT: NCT00904202]

Additional references

    1. Apkarian AV, Hashmi JA, Baliki MN. Pain and the brain: specificity and plasticity of the brain in clinical chronic pain. Pain 2011;152(3 Suppl):S49‐64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.11.010] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. PaPaS author and referee guidance. http://papas.cochrane.org/papas‐documents (accessed 22 January 2013).
    1. Eroglu C, Allen NJ, Susman MW, O'Rourke NA, Park CY, Ozkan E, et al. Gabapentin receptor alpha2delta‐1 is a neuronal thrombospondin receptor responsible for excitatory CNS synaptogenesis. Cell 2009;139(2):380‐92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.09.025] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Birse F, Derry S, Moore RA. Phenytoin for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 5. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009485.pub2] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bouhassira D, Lant?ri‐Minet M, Attal N, Laurent B, Touboul C. Prevalence of chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics in the general population. Pain 2008;136(3):380‐7. - PubMed

References to other published versions of this review

    1. Moore RA, Wiffen PJ, Derry S, McQuay HJ. Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 3. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub2] - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wiffen P, Collins S, McQuay H, Carroll D, Jadad A, Moore A. Anticonvulsant drugs for acute and chronic pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2000, Issue 3. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001133.pub2] - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wiffen PJ, McQuay HJ, Edwards JE, Moore RA. Gabapentin for acute and chronic pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 3. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005452] - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms