European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Title: Comparative study of efficacy and safety of gabapentin and amitriptyline in treatment of neuropathic pain associated with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. An open label, prospective randomized clinical study.
Background: Chronic lumbar radiculopathy is a clinical condition characterized by back and leg pain associated with sensory, reflex, or motor deficits in the area of nerve root distribution lasting for more than 12 weeks. The lifetime prevalence of lumbar radiculopathy has been reported to be 5.3% in men and 3.7% in women.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin and amitriptyline in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy by measuring the change in NPRS score.
Material and Methods: The present study was conducted in the outpatient department (OPD) of orthopedics in collaboration with department of pharmacology. It was a 12 weeks randomized comparative open label single centre two arm prospective study. Total patients were randomized equally into 2 groups. Patients in Group ‘A’ received Tablet Gabapentin 300 mg two times in a day and Patients in Group ‘B’ received Tablet Amitriptyline 10 mg. Pain intensity was assessed at baseline (0 week), at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks of starting the treatment using Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS).