Drug dulls shingles, diabetes pain
Gabapentin—a drug used to control convulsions in epilepsy—reduces nerve pain associated with diabetes and shingles.
References:
Backonja, M., et al. 1998. Gabapentin for the symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American Medical Association 280(Dec. 2):1831.
Low, P.A., and R.M. Dotson. 1998. Symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy. Journal of the American Medical Association. 280(Dec. 2):1863.
Rowbotham, M., et al. 1998. Gabapentin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Journal of the American Medical Association 280(Dec. 2):1837.
Further Readings:
Bruni, J., et al. 1991. Efficacy and safety of gabapentin (Neurontin): A multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Neurology (Supp. 1) 41:330.
Feldman, E.L., M.J. Stevens, and D.A. Greene. 1994. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy. In Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Mazzaferri, E.L., R.S. Bar, R.A. Kreisberg., eds. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc.
Sources:
Miroslav Backonja
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Neurology
600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792
From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 1, January 2, 1999, p. 11. Copyright © 1999 by Science Service.
copyright 1999 ScienceService