Keskinbora, K., Pekel, A.F., & Aydinli, I. (2007). Gabapentin and an opioid combination versus opioid alone for the management of neuropathic cancer pain: A randomized open trial. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 34, 183–189.
To compare a gabapentin-opioid combination to opioid monotherapy, in terms of safety and efficacy, in the management of neuropathic pain
Patients were randomized to one of two groups. One group received treatment with gabapentin added to ongoing opioids. Gabapentin was gabapentin titrated to pain; in this group (group GO), opioids were kept constant. In the other group (group OO), opioid monotherapy was continued according to the World Health Organization (WHO) ladder approach. The initial gabapentin dose was 100 mg three times daily for patients older than age 60 and 300 mg TID for those younger than age 60. Treatment was titrated to these doses in three days and to 3,600 mg per day according to response. GO patients could take gabapentin as a rescue drug.
The study was a randomized, single-site, open trial.
This study suggests that gabapentin added to opioids provides better relief than opioid monotherapy. Gabapentin-opioid treatment may be a first-line treatment for the specified patients.