The Effect of Gabapentin Plus Celecoxib on Pain and Associated Complications After Laminectomy

Prevention and treatment of postoperative pain is a major challenge in postoperative care and well-being of the surgical patient. The multimodal analgesic method has been recommended as an alternative treatment for the management of postoperative pain.

To assess the comparative effect of gabapentin versus gabapentin plus celecoxib on pain and associated complications after laminectomy.

In this randomized double- blind clinical trial, 114 patients scheduled for elective laminectomy received gabapentin (n=38, 900 mg daily), gabapentin plus celecoxib (n=38, 200 mg celecoxib plus 300mg gabapentin twice a day), and placebo (n=38, capsule containing starch). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to determine the severity of pain. Complications after surgery, anxiety scores before surgery and patient's satisfaction 24 hour after surgery were recorded.

The mean pain sevenity score and morphine consumption in the gabapentin plus celecoxib group were less compared to the placebo and gabapentin group respectively at various intervals (p < 0.001). The mean anxiety score, shivering, nausea, vomiting and pruritus in the gabapentin group were significantly lower compared to the placebo and gabapentin plus celecoxib groups respectively (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The frequencies of drowsiness (42.1%) in the gabapentin group were significantly high compared to the placebo and gabapentin plus celecoxib group respectively (p <0.001, p< 0.05). In the gabapentin plus celecoxib group patient satisfaction was significantly higher compared to the placebo and gabapentin group (p< 0.05).

Combination of 300 mg gabapentin plus 200 mg celecoxib twice a day is a good alternative in multimodal analgesia, effective in pain control with lesser side effects seen with gabapentin alone.