Research undertaken at The Multiple Sclerosis Center of the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center has found that MS treatment gabapentin not only reduces muscle spasticity in patients, but is able to do so without side effects of worsening concentration, fatigue, and diminished well-being.
The study involved 19 men and 2 women ranging in age from 34 to 67 years who were studied for 26 days using various disability measurement and physician-administered scales. The two questions being studied were 1.) how participants' muscle spasticity responded a base dosage of gabapentin, and 2.) how participants responded to higher dosages of gabapentin. One of the questions was the issue of gabapertin side effects or their lack thereof.
Gabapertin Side Effects – Research Results
In addition to finding that gabapentin did, in fact, have a positive impact on spasticity reduction for MS patients without the negative side effects, the survey authors also recommended further study of the long-term effectiveness of gabapentin for spasticity not only as an MS treatment, but also for spasticity related to other causes, such as brain injury.
For further information: "Gabapentin effect on spasticity in multiple sclerosis : A placebo-controlled, randomized trial," N. Cutter, MD, PT; D. Scott, MD; J. Johnson, MA; and G. Whitneck, PhD, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, volume 81, February 2000.
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Discover how doctors may prescribe customized treatments for MS patients individually, in MS Treatment of the Future Will Be Determined by Genes.
See MS Treatment: Advances in MS Therapy for more information about currently approved Multiple Sclerosis (MS) medications and therapies.
