Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Tracheal intubation and direct laryngoscopy are powerful noxious stimuli that can elicit sever hemodynamic responses. These hemodynamic responses should be attenuated by appropriate use of premedication, smooth induction of anesthesia and rapid tracheal intubation. Gabapentin and pregabalin have been suggested in several studies to be efficient. Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug and a structural analogue of gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) but it does not act through GABA receptors and pregabalin, is also an antiepileptic agent. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of gabapentin and pregabalin as premedication for attenuation of hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.
Methods: In a prospective double blinded randomized clinical trial, during April 2015 to March 2016 in Urmia Imam Khomeini Hospital, a total of ninety normotensive adult consented patients, candidate to elective abdominal surgery aged 20-50 years, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class I, of both gender were randomized into three groups. Patients in group I received oral placebo, group II received oral gabapentin 900 mg and group III patients received oral pregabalin 150 mg two hours prior to induction of anesthesia. Anesthetic technique was same in three groups and all groups were assessed for hemodynamic changes such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, after the premedication, before and after induction of anesthesia, and 1, 3 and 5 minutes. after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.
Results: Significant increase in heart rate and systolic blood pressure and diastolic arterial pressure was observed in placebo group after tracheal intubation, while statistically significant attenuation of hemodynamic changes was seen in gabapentin and pregabalin groups. (P=0.001) No adverse outcome was reported in the study groups.
Conclusion: Oral gabapentin premedication is effective for control of hemodynamic pressor response of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The study data showed that the pregabalin have the same effect. Pregabalin and gabapentin are both useful and safe for control of hemodynamic pressor response as premedication.

Background: Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy throughout the world and has negative impact on patient's quality of life. There is no cure and to date several drugs have been used for its symptomatic treatment, including antidepressants and antiepileptics. Neurotec is a herbal medicine (combination of wild star anise, nettle and tansy) that can be potentially effective in the treatment of this disorder. Proposed mechanisms include its effects on increasing nerve conduction velocity and repairing peripheral nerves.
Methods: In a single-blind randomized clinical trial from April to September 2018 in Kermanshah of patients referred to Taleghani Hospital Clinic, 100 diabetic patients with sensory complaints, were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received 100 to 300 mg gabapentin (a well-known effective antiepileptic drug) daily and the second group received 100 mg Neurotec daily. At the beginning of the study and at the weeks of 6 and 12, patients were evaluated with DN4 questionnaire and the visual analog scale (VAS) for severity of sensory symptoms including paresthesia and numbness and the results were compared and analyzed. In each serial visit, possible drug side effects were asked from patients and recorded.

Results: Neurotec reduced the feeling of coldness, pain, paresthesia and numbness VAS and DN4 scores (P of 0.01,0.05, 0.05, 0.05, 0.001, 0.05 respectively). Neurotec showed a significant advantage over gabapentin in reducing pain intensity and in other parameters the difference between the two groups was not significant. The only significant complication of Neurotec was dyspepsia that could be minimal in patients who receive the drug after a meal. Conversely in the gabapentin group, dizziness, drowsiness, and vertigo were significantly more common (P>0.05). Conclusion: Neurotec can be useful for sensory symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Its effect on symptomatic therapy is comparable to gabapentin or even better for painful diabetic neuropathies. Its proposed mechanism in neuronal repair needs to be evaluated and can be a potential advantage over symptomatic therapies. Neurotic has no serious side effects.