Comparison the Effect of Gabapentin and Theophylline on Post Spinal Headache After Cesarean Section

Background and Objective: Evidence about the effect of theophylline and gabapentin on post-spinal headache is rare. Therefore, in this study, we compared the effect of gabapentin and theophylline on post-spinal headache after cesarean section. Materials and Methods: We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial on ۱۲۰ pregnant women, who underwent spinal anesthesia due to cesarean section; they had experienced post-spinal headache. They were randomly assigned to the study groups, including gabapentin and theophylline groups. The gabapentin group received ۴۰۰ mg of gabapentin, every eight hours for ۲۴ hours. The theophylline group also received ۲۰۰ mg theophylline, every eight hours for ۲۴ hours. The visual analog scale (VAS) score was compared between the two groups before the intervention and ۸, ۱۶ and ۲۴ hours after the intervention. Statistical analysis was done using Studentchr('۳۹')s t-test. P-value less than ۵% was considered as significant. Results: There was not any significant difference between the two groups in regards of VAS score, before the intervention and ۸ and ۱۶ hours after the intervention; the significant lower VAS score was reported by the theophylline group, ۲۴ hours after the intervention (۰.۷±۱.۷۹ vs. ۲.۲۳±۲.۵۸, P=۰.۰۱۴). Reductions in the VAS score during ۸ hours (۳.۱۴ vs. ۲.۶۷), ۱۶ hours (۴.۷ vs. ۳.۴۷) and ۲۴ hours (۵.۵ vs. ۳.۸) were compared after the intervention; it was higher in the post-intervention compared to the pre-intervention in the theophylline group. Conclusion: The present clinical trial study showed that reduction in the VAS score was significantly higher in the theophylline group compared to the gabapentin group, only within ۲۴ hours. Both gabapentin and theophylline were effective against post-spinal headache, but Theophylline was more effective on pain relief within ۲۴ hours.

Keywords:

Cesarean section , Gabapentin , Headache , Theophylline