[Gabapentin (GBP) in panic disorders--case report]

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant structurally similar to gamma - amino- butyric acid considered as the central acting GABA- analogue. It is used mostly as an antiepileptic agent. A constantly growing number of studies refer to its efficacy in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

To audit the effectiveness of the gabapentin used as adjunctive treatment of intensified panic disorder.

6 patients (5 women, 1 man, of mean age 44.2 years) treated with gabapentin in combined therapy of a mean dose 300 mg/d, lasting on average 196 days.

Patients were diagnosed using research criteria based on the ICD-10 and M.I.N.I.5.0.0.

Adverse events were not observed and an addition of gabapentin into treatment brings improvement of the clinical condition. Complete amelioration was detected in 4 of the 6 patients. In one single year of observation panic disorder relapses were not observed even though there was a discontinuation of treatment. The presented case reports show a possibility of successful treatment with gabapentin in severe panic disorders.