Gabapentin Successfully Manages Chronic Unexplained Irritability in Children With Severe Neurologic Impairment

Gabapentin Successfully Manages Chronic Unexplained Irritability in Children With Severe Neurologic Impairment

Hauer JM; Wical BS; Charnas L

Pediatrics

2007

Child; Female; Humans; Male; Adult; Severity of Illness Index; adolescent; Preschool; infant; Chronic disease; retrospective studies; Nervous System Diseases/complications; Analgesics/therapeutic use; Amines/therapeutic use; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids/therapeutic use; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/therapeutic use; Irritable Mood/drug effects; Remission Induction

Neurologically impaired children have an increased frequency of recurrent pain and irritability that persist in some despite comprehensive evaluation and management of possible pain sources. We hypothesized that visceral hyperalgesia was a source of chronic unexplained irritability and report the outcome of gabapentin treatment in 9 severely neurologically impaired children. Caregivers reported marked improvement after treatment ranging from 3 months to 3 years. Nystagmus in 1 child was the only noted adverse effect. Visceral hyperalgesia may be a source of unexplained irritability in the neurologically impaired child. Symptoms may improve with gabapentin treatment.

2007-02

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