The effectiveness of gabapentin in treating overactive bladder: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Introduction: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition in urology that affects individuals of various ages and genders, significantly impacting their quality of life. Objectives: The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of gabapentin in treating OAB in Jordan. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at a private clinic in Jordan between 2020 and 2022. It utilized a one-group pre- and post-test design involving 50 patients. The intervention involved administering gabapentin at a daily dose of 400 mg. The effectiveness of gabapentin was evaluated using the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) questionnaire, administered before and after six weeks of gabapentin administration. Results: The study sample consisted of 50 patients aged between 45 and 85 years, with a mean age of 65.2 years. After the treatment, all individual variables, such as urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urgency incontinence, showed significant reductions compared to the pre-intervention values. The mean total OABSS significantly decreased from 14.6 before to 6.8 after the intervention. The paired t test yielded a result of 9.84 with a P value of less than 0.001, indicating a statistically significant improvement. Conclusion: The noteworthy improvement in OABSS scores, urgency, nocturia, frequency of micturition, and urge incontinence observed in this study suggests that gabapentin could have a role as a treatment option for OAB patients.