GABAPENTIN

What is gabapentin?

Gabapentin is a medication that mimics gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the body. GABA is responsible for inhibiting neurons that produce an excitatory signal. In pain or seizures, neurons constantly fire, inducing an excitatory response. GABA works to calm these neurons and return them to normalcy. Gabapentin is commonly used for neuropathy (nerve pain) and those affected with partial seizures. [1].

Can gabapentin help with long-COVID?

Patients with long-COVID can display a variety of symptoms such as tremors or neuropathy in the fingers or toes. Although the mechanism behind this is still unclear, some theories point to damage of the nerve cells by COVID-19, causing an imbalance in excitatory versus inhibitory neurons [2]. Several providers have turned to therapies, such as gabapentin, to control these symptoms. In a guide created for primary care physicians regarding long-COVID, the use of gabapentin is warranted for neuropathic pain [2]. Additionally, a review study published in 2022 found that in patients with neuropathy from long-COVID, 61% were prescribed agents such as gabapentin for symptom management [3].

An additional theory for COVID-19 involves its proposed effect on the nerve cells responsible for smell. Since damaged nerve cells are thought to be involved, researchers turned to gabapentin to mitigate this loss of olfactory neurons. A study found that the use of gabapentin did not significantly improve the sense of smell compared to placebo [4].

Gabapentin may be a helpful therapy for those suffering from neurological pain associated with long-COVID. It may offer symptom management and help restore a patient to pre-COVID baseline function.

References: 

¹https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a694007.html

²https://www.jabfm.org/content/jabfp/34/6/1229.full.pdf

³https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.51570

⁴https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2809346#:~:text=^Conclusion%20and%20Relevance%20In%20this,COVID%2D19–induced%20OD.