Gabapentin for Relief of Immediate Postoperative Pain
Gabapentin for Relief of Immediate Postoperative Pain
The purpose of this study is to use gabapentin as an additional or alternative treatment for
 short term pain control following cesarean delivery in order to reduce the use of opioid pain
 medication and improve overall pain control following surgery.
This is a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind study. After consent, the subject will
 complete a Depression Screening to establish a baseline score. Within 2 hours following
 completion of a cesarean section, the subject will be given the study drug (600mg Gabapentin)
 or placebo. She will be given this every 8 hours for 48 hours scheduled. She will also have
 the option to take routine opioid pain medication if her pain is uncontrolled. She will be
 asked to rate her postoperative pain on a Visual Analog Scale prior to receiving the study
 drug, 2-4 hours after each dose, and at 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperatively. For
 breastfeeding infants, data will be collected regarding overall feeding quality, somnolence
 levels, gestational age at birth, infant weight at birth and discharge, the highest bilirubin
 level while inpatient and any treatment for this as applicable. The subject will complete the
 Depression Scale again at 48 hours following delivery. At one week postpartum, they will
 receive a phone call and the following will be addressed: a final pain survey, a Depression
 survey, nausea level, number of pain pills left in their prescription, adverse events,
 whether or not they would take the study drug again if they should happen to have another
 cesarean section, and infant well-being if breastfeeding.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Pregnant women at least 18 years of age

 2. Gestational age > or = to 30 weeks

 3. Singleton gestation

 4. Women undergoing a non-emergent cesarean delivery

 5. Spinal anesthesia or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia utilized during cesarean

 6. Ability to undergo the informed consent process in English

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Vertical skin incision

 2. General anesthesia for cesarean

 3. History of major depression or postpartum depression requiring medication

 4. Chronic opiate use during pregnancy, defined as anyone who has taken an opioid or
 opioid replacement therapy in the 3 days prior to admission for delivery. This does
 not include opioids given for labor anesthesia.

 5. Magnesium sulfate treatment postpartum

 6. Preexisting fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, or rheumatologic disorder