TY - JOUR
T1 - Alpha 2 delta (α2δ) ligands, gabapentin and pregabalin
T2 - What is the evidence for potential use of these ligands in irritable bowel syndrome
AU - Gale, Jeremy D.
AU - Houghton, Lesley A.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder that is characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habit, and often associates with other gastrointestinal symptoms such as feelings of incomplete bowel movement and abdominal bloating, and extra-intestinal symptoms such as headache, dyspareunia, heartburn, muscle pain, and back pain. It also frequently coexists with conditions that may also involve central sensitization processes, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bladder disorder, and chronic cough. This review examines the evidence to date on gabapentin and pregabalin which may support further and con- tinued research and development of the α2δ ligands in disorders characterized by visceral hypersensitivity, such as IBS. The distribution of the α2δ subunit of the voltage-gated cal- cium channel, possible mechanisms of action, pre-clinical data which supports an effect on motor-sensory mechanisms and clinical evidence that points to potential benefits in patients with IBS will be discussed.
AB - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder that is characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habit, and often associates with other gastrointestinal symptoms such as feelings of incomplete bowel movement and abdominal bloating, and extra-intestinal symptoms such as headache, dyspareunia, heartburn, muscle pain, and back pain. It also frequently coexists with conditions that may also involve central sensitization processes, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bladder disorder, and chronic cough. This review examines the evidence to date on gabapentin and pregabalin which may support further and con- tinued research and development of the α2δ ligands in disorders characterized by visceral hypersensitivity, such as IBS. The distribution of the α2δ subunit of the voltage-gated cal- cium channel, possible mechanisms of action, pre-clinical data which supports an effect on motor-sensory mechanisms and clinical evidence that points to potential benefits in patients with IBS will be discussed.
KW - Central sensitization
KW - Gabapentin
KW - Irritable bowel syndrome
KW - Motility
KW - Peripheral sensitization
KW - Pregabalin
KW - Visceral sensitivity
KW - αδ ligands
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84856937669&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84856937669&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fphar.2011.00028
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2011.00028
M3 - Article
C2 - 21713059
AN - SCOPUS:84856937669
SN - 1663-9812
VL - JUN
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
JF - Frontiers in Pharmacology
M1 - Article 28
ER -