Chronic Oral Gabapentin Reduces Elements of Central Sensitization in Human Experimental Hyperalgesia

• Published in: Anesthesiology (Philadelphia) Vol. 101; no. 6; pp. 1400 - 1408
• Main Authors: Gottrup, Hanne, Juhl, Gitte, Kristensen, Anders D., Lai, Robert, Chizh, Boris A., Brown, John, Bach, Flemming W., Jensen, Troels S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott 01.12.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Amines - adverse effects; Amines - blood; Amines - therapeutic use; Analgesics - adverse effects; Analgesics - blood; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Capsaicin; Central Nervous System - drug effects; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - adverse effects; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - blood; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - therapeutic use; Double-Blind Method; Gabapentin; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - adverse effects; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - blood; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - therapeutic use; Humans; Hyperalgesia - chemically induced; Hyperalgesia - drug therapy; Hyperalgesia - physiopathology; Injections, Intradermal; Male; Medical sciences; Pain Measurement - drug effects; Physical Stimulation; Human; Chronic; Gabapentin; Oral administration; Anesthesia; Anticonvulsant; Hyperalgesia

In chronic pain, increased activity from intact or damaged peripheral nerve endings results in an enhanced response in central pain transmission systems, a mechanism known as central sensitization. Central sensitization can also be invoked in human experimental models. Therefore, these models may be...