Can gabapentin ease acute sciatica better than a sugar pill?
NCT ID NCT04865042
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether gabapentin, a nerve pain medication, provides better short-term pain relief than a placebo for people hospitalized with acute sciatica caused by a herniated disc. 144 adults received either gabapentin or placebo on top of their usual pain treatment for three days. Researchers measured pain changes and side effects to see if gabapentin offers an advantage.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Gabapentin
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could confirm that adding gabapentin to standard pain relief helps people with acute sciatica feel better faster during a short hospital stay.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, short-term study (72 hours) with only 144 participants. Gabapentin may not outperform placebo, and side effects like dizziness or drowsiness are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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CH Arras-rheumatology
Arras, France
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CH Béthune-rheumatology
Béthune, France
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CH Dunkerque-rheumatology
Dunkirk, France
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CHU Caen-rheumatology
Caen, France
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CHU Rouen-rheumatology
Rouen, France