Gabapentin monotherapy for the symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy: A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with diabetes mellitus

Pain is the most disturbing symptom of diabetic neuropathy. Traditionally this type of pain was treated with tricyclic antidepressants which frequently have many side effects. In the study reported here, gabapentin was administered in escalating doses up to 3600 mg per day to eligible patients with moderate to severe diabetic neuropathy pain in a double blind placebo controlled fashion. Gabapentin provided superior and significant pain relief over placebo. In addition, patients taking gabapentin had improvement of sleep scores and a number of items on mood and quality of life questionnaires. Gabapentin was tolerated well with mild and tolerable side effects.