Gabapentin relieves paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain

The use of gabapentin is effective in reducing neuropathic pain due to paclitaxel chemotherapy, as shown in a study.

Neuropathic pain among cancer patients at baseline was 22.7, and this decreased to 0.01 on subsequent follow-ups. Moreover, grade 2 arthralgia, myalgia, and neuropathic pain decreased to grade 0 in the third cycle from baseline. The difference in baseline and postgabapentin therapy, analysed by conducting t-test, was statistically significant (p<0.00001; t-value less than –2).

“Prophylactic usage of gabapentin was highly effective at bringing about quick pain relief when compared to symptomatic treatment,” the authors said. “In further follow-ups, it was noted that gabapentin maintained the impact throughout the cycles.”

Fifty-one patients were enrolled in this observational, cohort study conducted in the Department of Oncology, Dhiraj Hospital, Vadodara, India. The authors identified newly detected cancer patients who had arthralgia, myalgia, and neuropathic pain due to paclitaxel. They performed a baseline pain assessment using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and painDETECT questionnaire.

The participants received gabapentin in the first cycle after symptoms appeared and prophylactic treatment in the subsequent three cycles. Pain was assessed after gabapentin therapy to evaluate the symptomatic and prophylactic effect of the study drug.

“Arthralgia, myalgia, and neuropathic pain are the most common side effects observed due to paclitaxel chemotherapy,” according to the authors.