Gabapentin add-on therapy for patients with spinal cord injury associated neurogenic overactive detrusors that are unresponsive to combined anticholinergic and beta-3 adrenergic therapy

Spinal cord injury can lead to bladder problems, specifically an overactive detrusor muscle, which causes frequent and uncontrolled urination. Some patients don't respond well to standard treatments like anticholinergics and beta-3 agonists. This study explores whether adding gabapentin, a medication typically used for nerve pain, can help these patients with an overactive detrusor that hasn't responded to other treatments. Gabapentin has been found to be clinically beneficial in suppressing contractions of the detrusor. The study found that in some patients, adding gabapentin reduced bladder contractions, decreased bladder pressure, and lowered the number of incontinence episodes. This suggests gabapentin might be a useful additional treatment option before considering more invasive procedures like Botulinum toxin injections.

• 1
  In 11 patients (40.17%), gabapentin add-on therapy led to decreased detrusor contractions, maximal detrusor pressure, and the number of incontinence episodes.
• 2
  Neuropathic pain, a common issue in spinal cord injury patients, also saw significant improvement with the gabapentin add-on therapy.
• 3
  16 patients did not respond to gabapentin add-on therapy in terms of urodynamic results and number of incontinence episodes, and were referred for Botulinum toxin injection.