Overview

The Effectiveness of Gabapentin for Post-operative Pain Following Cesarean Section

Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-02-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
Female
Summary
Gabapentin has been very effective at treating pain after knee and hip operations, hysterectomies, and many other types of operations. A previous study at the investigators' hospital found that a single pre-operative dose of 600mg gabapentin produced a significant reduction in pain after caesarean section. However, 19% complained of sedation. The purpose of this study is to see whether a reduced dose of gabapentin will produce a similar improvement in pain scores while avoiding adverse effects such as sedation or dizziness. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of a single pre-operative oral dose of gabapentin 300mg, versus 600mg and placebo in women undergoing Cesarean section. The investigators' hypothesis is that gabapentin 300mg will result in decreased pain scores similar to gabapentin 600mg, but with reduced side effects.
Phase:
N/A
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Treatments:
Gabapentin
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- 18 years or older

- full term singleton pregnancy

- undergoing elective cesarean delivery

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients unable to communicate fluently in English

- Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of 3 or
greater

- Patients with history of epilepsy or chronic pain, or of use of anti-epileptic drugs
or neuropathic analgesic drugs

- Patients with a history of opioid or intravenous drug abuse

- Patients with a known allergy or contra-indication to gabapentin, or to any other
drugs used in this trial

- Patients who have refused spinal anaesthesia, or those in whom it is contra-indicated

- Patients with known congenital fetal abnormalities

- Patients who have taken antacid medication in the previous 24 hours