The Effect of Gabapentin on the Number and Severity of Cough in the Patients with Resistant Chronic Cough

Chronic cough is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in today's society. This disease easily affects patients’ quality of life. Recently, the effect of gabapentin on the treatment of a chronic cough has been studied in some researches. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gabapentin on the number and severity of daily cough in patients with a chronic cough. In this clinical trial study, 100 patients with chronic cough (more than 8 weeks) and without any specific cause, such as infection, were included. Patients were randomized to receive gabapentin (up to a dose of 900 mg/day) and placebo for up to 4 weeks. The severity of cough was evaluated in patients after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Findings: The mean number of attacks per day, the number of coughs per turn, and the visual analog scale (VAS) in the 2nd and 4th weeks after treatment in the group treated with gabapentin was significantly lower than the placebo group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the prevalence of cough with activity and wakefulness due to coughing in the second and fourth weeks was significantly lower in the group treated with gabapentin than in the placebo group (P < 0.05). The initiation of gabapentin treatment up to a maximum of 900 mg per day for 4 weeks reduces symptoms such as waking up from sleep due to coughing or coughing with activity, as well as cough severity and chronic cough attacks.