Effects of Gabapentin on Pain Relief and Need for Opiates after Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Aims Pain is the main concern after surgery. Gabapentin was recently suggested as a pain killer to be used after various surgeries. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of gabapentin on pain relief and need for opiates after total abdominal hysterectomy. Materials & Methods This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 85 women who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy from March 2014 to March 2016 in Akbarabadi teaching hospital and Firoozgar teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Samples were selected using consecutive sampling method and were randomly assigned into the 2 groups. In case group (n=44) gabapentin (800mg) was orally administered one hour before surgery and in the placebo group (n=41) placebo which was similar to gabapentin administered. The pain score was assessed in 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery. Nausea and vomiting were also compared between the 2 groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS 19 software using statistical tests. Findings The two groups did not have significant differences according to pain score in the recovery room (point 0). Mean score of pain was lower in the case group in 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery (p=0.005). Meperidine (pethidine) use was less in the case group (p=0.003). There was no difference between the 2 groups for nausea and vomiting. Conclusion Using gabapentin before surgery can lower the pain after surgery and reduces the need for opiates. However, it doesn’t have an effect on nausea and vomiting.