Gabapentin as a Novel Drug

Gabapentin is an antiepileptic and analgesic drug. There is an urge for reliable scientific evidence to support its ongoing widespread use for treatment of a number of other conditions as well.

Critical appraisal of the available literature on pharmacological basis of approved and off-label uses of gabapentin to assess the scope for its new roles in therapeutics.

A systematic review of literature was made to study history, pharmacology, approved uses and off-label uses of gabapentin.

Gabapentin use has extended into the management of a variety of disorders besides epilepsy, neuropathic pain and restless leg syndrome. A large number of clinical trials are conducted to establish its role in a wide spectrum of clinical situations. While tremendous scientific speculations are surrounding the drug; there is a need to know more about this novel drug including its mechanism of action and adverse effect profile.