gabapentin use in neonates gabapentin reddit pain

We aimed to identify trends in gabapentin utilization among infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across the United States (US) and to evaluate the associations between clinical diagnoses and gabapentin treatment. Although there is a growing literature on the clinical responses and adverse events related to gabapentin use in neonates, both term and preterm, 2-6 there are no guidelines or recommendations on when or how to consider gabapentin use in neonates, to initiate and titrate the medication to effect, and to discontinue the medication. The objectives of this study were to characterize gabapentin utilization in the NICU over time and describe clinical characteristics associated with gabapentin exposure in infants. These data will help inform study design for early phase trials of the pharmacokinetics and safety of gabapentin in infants. Gabapentin was well tolerated in infants. Initial gabapentin dosing of 5 mg/kg/dose every 24 hours appears safe and consistent with other published studies in infants. The improvement in outcomes with few adverse events suggests a beneficial role for gabapentin. Keywords: gabapentin, infants, irritability, neonates, pain, visceral hyperalgesia. Gabapentin has been used in the management of pediatric neuropathic pain for nearly two decades. In 1998, McGraw and Stacey described the effective use of gabapentin in a 12-year-old girl with neuropathic pain after thoracotomy for a pacemaker revision.12 She described her pain as knife-like and almost constant. Trials of We aimed to identify trends in gabapentin utilization among infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across the United States and to evaluate the associations between clinical diagnoses and gabapentin treatment. Gabapentin, a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid, has antiepileptic and antinociceptive properties. 1 It targets multiple pathways involved in neuropathic pain and inflammation. 1 In adults, gabapentin is commonly used to help alleviate cancer and chemotherapy-related pain, spinal cord injury-related pain, and peripheral neuropathic pain Over half (55%) of infants receiving gabapentin were born prematurely, 54% (n = 45) had chronic lung disease, 46% (n = 39) had gastrostomy tubes, and 34% (n = 29) had drug withdrawal syndrome; 49% (n = 42) and 27% (n = 23) received opioids and benzodiazepines, respectively. RESULTS: Gabapentin was prescribed to 104 infants (median gestational age 29 weeks, median postmenstrual age at initiation 41 weeks). Sixty-one percent of infants were male. The primary indication was irritability in 86%, and 67% were receiving at least one other neurosedative medication. Gabapentin was used for the treatment of term and preterm infants with suspected visceral hyperalgesia caused by a variety of neurologic and gastrointestinal morbidities. Improved feeding tolerance and decreased irritability were seen, as well as decreased usage of opioids and benzodiazepines. Adverse events occurred with abrupt discontinuation of this medication. Introduction. Gabapentin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog that has been used in multiple disease states in children, including neuropathic pain, irritability, visceral hyperalgesia, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), rescue sedation and feeding intolerance. 1–7 Despite the increased utilization of gabapentin in neonates, 1 there remains a gap in the pediatric literature describing the Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant, neuroleptic, and pain medication, is widely used in both adults and children for management of epilepsy, bipolar illness, and neuropathic pain. Gabapentin use has also been recommended for hyperemesis gravidarum and restless leg syndrome in pregnant mothers. In neonates with neurological impairments, gabapentin has been successfully used as a treatment for visceral hyperalgesia in neonates. The authors describe a preterm infant with myelomeningocel Visceral hyperalgesia refers to increased pain sensation in response to gastrointestinal sensory stimulus. We aimed to identify trends in gabapentin utilization among infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across the United States and to evaluate the associations between clinical diagnoses and gabapentin treatment. %PDF-1.7 %âãÏÓ 112 0 obj > endobj xref 112 123 0000000016 00000 n 0000003281 00000 n 0000003486 00000 n 0000003527 00000 n 0000003562 00000 n 0000004020 00000 n 0000004126 00000 n 0000004241 00000 n 0000004349 00000 n 0000004463 00000 n 0000004571 00000 n 0000004686 00000 n 0000004791 00000 n 0000004906 00000 n 0000005013 00000 n 0000005128 00000 n 0000005235 00000 n 0000005350 00000 n Although there is a growing literature on the clinical responses and adverse events related to gabapentin use in neonates, both term and preterm, 2-6 there are no guidelines or recommendations on when or how to consider gabapentin use in neonates, to initiate and titrate the medication to effect, and to discontinue the medication. Gabapentin was well tolerated and associated with decreases in pain scores. It's use resulted in decreased requirements for analgesic and sedative medications. Gabapentin therapy appears to be an effective option for neonates and infants with refractory pain and agitation. We aimed to describe our experience with gabapentin use in infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), including neurodevelopmental follow-up after discharge. Gabapentin was used for the treatment of term and preterm infants with suspected visceral hyperalgesia caused by a variety of neurologic and gastrointestinal morbidities. Improved feeding tolerance and decreased irritability were seen, as well as decreased usage of opioids and benzodiazepines. Gabapentin has been used to treat neuropathic pain related to visceral hyperalgesia in the neonatal population (5, 6). Gabapentin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog, is thought to inhibit pain via voltage-dependent calcium ion channels in the central nervous system.

gabapentin use in neonates gabapentin reddit pain
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