What is Gabapentin Used For

The Gabapentin drug was synthesized with the intention of producing a drug similar to GABA (gama-aminobutryic acid). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of US, approved Gabapentin for the treatment of partial-seizures in 1994. The Gabapentin drug is derived from GABA, by adding the cyclohexyl group. The mechanism of action of Gabapentin is not clearly understood yet.

What is Gabapentin Used For

The drug is mostly used for treating different types of Neuralgia. Neuropathic pain or neuralgia is a condition in which the person suffers from pain due to the alteration of neurological structure or its functioning. Generally, pain originates from the pain receptor cells. If the nerves are torn or severed during an accident and they don't fuse properly, the patients suffers from chronic pains. These chronic pains are treated by means of Gabapentin. Nerve pains related to spinal injuries are also treated with the help of this drug. It is also used in the treatment of 'autoimmune' diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system turns overactive and acts against the tissues in the body. In case of multiple sclerosis, the nervous system is attacked. It further leads to demyelination, a condition in which the myelin sheath enclosing the neurons is damaged. The pains resulting from multiple sclerosis are reduced by the treatment of Gabapentin. The drug has proved to be successful in treatment of 'Complex Regional Pain Syndrome'. It is a disease which causes swelling and pain in the skin. Gabapentin is prescribed as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It doesn't exhibit many side-effects in comparison to the treatment by valproic acid and lithium. The drug has not been much effective in treating the disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, insomnia and depression.

Controversies

There has been a lot of controversies over the usage of Gabapentin. Studies conducted in the '90s termed it suitable for the treatment of bipolar disorders. However, recent studies and researches do not find them effective enough, to treat the disease. Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company had accepted the fact, that FDA guidelines and rules were violated by the off-label usage of Gabapentin in the 'Franklin vs Pfizer' case. Dr. David Franklin had filed a lawsuit against the Pfizer company, accusing them of illegally promoting the Gabapentin drug for un-approved uses. However, the controversy didn't stop psychiatrists from prescribing the medicine for off-label uses.

Side-Effects

Drowsiness, dizziness and peripheral edema are the most common side-effects of Gabapentin. High doses of this drug leads to these side-effects. Children treated with this dose, also exhibit some adverse effects such as hyperactivity, mood swings and problems in concentration. Care should be taken while using Gabapentin for patients with renal impairments. Since the usage of Gabapentin leads to the accumulation of toxins, the precautions mentioned above, should be taken.

Recreational Use

The drug produces psychoactive effects, thus it is used for recreational purposes. The varying effects that the drug produces are, mental and physical stimulation, euphoria, incessant talking, etc. If heavy doses of Gabapentin are used for recreation, the person might suffer from stomach discomfort such as diarrhea.

Thus, we can say that other than medical uses, the Gabapentin drug has many other applications in our day-today life.