Ask Dr Miriam

Q I’ve had low back pain for ages. It’s excruciating and I can’t move around properly. My GP suggested strong painkiller gabapentin. Is it OK? A It is sometimes helpful when treating nerve pain, but an excellent recent review reckons there’s no justification for its use for chronic low back pain.

Although gabapentin has been shown in trials to be slightly better at relieving symptoms than a placebo, it came out less effective than painkillers like paracetamol, codeine or combos of both. This drug can also have unpleasant side effects including dizziness, fatigue, and visual disturbances. I’m afraid the report concludes any benefit from this drug was outweighed by the risk of side effects. Have you seen a specialist? It’s possible that a programme of physiotherapy, pilates and medication could help you.