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Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Translated Title

Gabapentin對脊髓損傷患者神經性疼痛的治療

Abstract

The patients with spinal cord injury suffer from motor and sensory impairment with bowel and bladder dysfunction. However, chronic neuropathic pain is also a common complaint after spinal cord injury and is usually refractory to many therapies. The exact mechanism of relieving hyperalgesia and allodynia is still unknown, but most believed it is related to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and voltage-dependent calcium channel. Gabapentin is supposed to be an antagonist of NMDA receptor complex which mediates an influx of calcium ions when activated. In addition, gabapentin inhibits neuronal calcium influx in a calcium channel by binding to the α2δ subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel. The decreased calcium influx reduces excitatory amino acid and mediates analgesic effect. Gabapentin is an antiepileptic agent and it has been found to be effective in many therapeutic conditions, especially in neuropathic pain. Oral doses of gabapentin are administered three times a day due to its short half life and daily dosage is from 900 to 3600 mg. The most common side effects are somnolence and dizziness, but they can be well-tolerated by most patients. There are significant improvements in neuropathic pain, sleep and life quality after gabapentin use. Gabapentin is quite safe, convenient and effective and it is suggested to be the first-line medication for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients.

Language

Traditional Chinese

First Page

197

Last Page

208

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