The mechanism of action of gabapentin in neuropathic pain

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Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 Jan;7(1):33-9.

The mechanism of action of gabapentin in neuropathic pain.

Baillie JK, Power I.

Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine,

University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little

France Street, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK.

Neuropathic pain is a common and potentially treatable cause of

considerable lifelong morbidity. Effective pharmacological treatments

are scarce, but one group of drugs that has shown promise is the

antiepileptics. Gabapentin has become popular as a first-line

treatment for neuropathic pain because of its efficacy as an

antineuropathic agent and relatively benign side-effect profile.

However, its mechanism of action is far from clear. This review

discusses the available evidence for the postulated mechanisms of

action of gabapentin. Understanding the mechanism of action of this

agent may well lead to the development of safer and more effective

antineuropathic drugs.