Most studies on gabapentin for sleep are in people who have sleep troubles due to other health conditions, like alcohol use disorder, restless leg syndrome, and fibromyalgia. One large meta-analysis of 26 studies and over 4,500 people found that gabapentin improved sleep in people with these conditions. Discussion. This study revealed that without consideration of the type of sleep outcomes, gabapentin was significantly superior to placebos for the treatment for sleep disorders secondary to RLS, neuropathic pain, alcohol dependence, hot flashes in menopause, fibromyalgia, phantom limb pain, HIV-associated sensory neuropathies, and bipolar disorder. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) have been found to improve sleep, but the mechanism of action is not clear. 47, 48 A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adults who Potential Benefits of Gabapentin for Sleep Disorders. Despite the uncertainties surrounding its impact on REM sleep, gabapentin has shown promise in treating various sleep disorders. Its use in managing insomnia, particularly in patients with chronic pain or anxiety, has garnered attention from sleep specialists. Gabapentin is safe and effective in improving the sleep quality of patients with sensory nervous-system diseases. Due to the limitations of sample size and types of diseases in the current study, the field needs multicenter, large-sample, and high-quality RCTs for further validation in the future. Adults reporting occasional disturbed sleep received gabapentin 500 mg (n = 125), 250 mg (n = 125), or placebo (n = 127) 30 min prior to bedtime and were in bed from 17:00 to 01:00, ∼5 h before their habitual bedtime. Sleep was assessed by PSG, post-sleep questionnaire, and the Karolinska Sleep Diary (KSD). Clinical studies have revealed that gabapentin could improve the objective and subjective outcomes of sleep disturbance in patient with medical illness (13–37). Gabapentin Enacarbil (GEn) or XP13512 is a prodrug of gabapentin, used as an anticonvulsant and for pain relief in postherpetic neuralgia. Gabapentin’s effect on sleep patterns is not fully understood, but researchers believe it may work by modulating calcium channels in the brain, which can influence neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability. This mechanism may help explain its potential benefits for various sleep disorders. Sleep disorders are common in the United States, with the Institute of Medicine estimating that 50 million to 70 million adults report chronically disturbed sleep. 1 Current recommendations for Chronic neuropathic pain (NP) is debilitating and impacts sleep health and quality of life. Treatment with gabapentinoids (GBs) has been shown to reduce pain, but its effects on sleep health have not been systematically evaluated. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to asse Preliminary evidence indicates that gabapentin can attenuate insomnia, bolster sleep quality, and increase total sleep duration. Moreover, gabapentin has been shown to increase slow-wave sleep (SWS), promote sleep maintenance, and decrease unwanted awakenings throughout the night. Gabapentin is often prescribed for individuals suffering from primary insomnia because it can improve sleep efficiency and reduce sleep disturbances. The medication works by interacting with a naturally occurring chemical known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Regardless the type of sleep outcomes, gabapentin showed stable efficacy in the treatment for sleep disturbance in patients with medical illness with a relatively high risk of treatment discontinuation and drug withdrawal when used at an average dose of approximately 1,800 mg/day. The effectiveness of gabapentin as a sleep aid can be maximized by combining its use with consistent sleep routines, a sleep-conducive environment, and avoidance of substances that may interfere with its action or sleep quality. Such alterations include sleep fragmentation, decrement of sleep efficiency, increment of the wake time after sleep onset (WASO), increment of light sleep, and decrement of sleep depth. On the other hand, gabapentin (GBP), an antiepileptic drug analog of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) used as adjunctive and eventually, as a monotherapeutic This study is the first to systematically assess the clinical value of gabapentin for the treatment of sleep disorders. We found that regardless the type of sleep outcomes, gabapentin displayed stable treatment efficacy for sleep disturbance in patients with medical illness. Gabapentin’s ability to modulate GABA activity in the brain may help address both sleep disturbances and anxiety symptoms simultaneously. When considering gabapentin for combined sleep and anxiety treatment, dosage considerations become even more important. Most studies show that gabapentin improves slow wave sleep (“deep sleep”) and total sleep time. Two small studies showed that gabapentin may help people with primary insomnia and occasional sleep disturbance improve total sleep time and wakefulness in the morning. Gabapentin for Menopause-Related Sleep Issues: Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives explores how gabapentin may be particularly beneficial for women experiencing sleep disturbances related to menopause. Drug interactions are an important factor to consider when choosing between pregabalin and gabapentin.
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