Gabapentin for the Treatment of Tremor

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To review the use of the antiepileptic drug gabapentin for the treatment of various types of tremor.

DATA SOURCES:

A search of biomedical literature was completed through MEDLINE and EMBASE (1993–May 2002) to identify all clinical trials pertaining to the use of gabapentin for the treatment of tremor in humans.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Outcome data from the few published studies have varied widely. Patient groups have been small, and conclusions have been based largely on subjective patient and investigator ratings.

CONCLUSIONS:

A trial of gabapentin is warranted in patients who fail therapy with traditional agents. Improvement should be measured by a patient's perceived functional ability.