Date: {{$ActivityAssignDate}}

Dear Dr. {{ $doctorName }},

Subject: A survey to assess the usage pattern of Gabapentin extended-release formulation in the management of neuropathic pain in India

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines neuropathic pain as pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. This definition replaces an older definition according to which neuropathic pain was “pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion, dysfunction, or transitory perturbation of the peripheral or central nervous system”.

Two changes are important in this change of definition: dysfunction and the neuronal lesion.

1. In the new definition of neuropathic pain, dysfunction is no longer accepted as a criterion because it is difficult to accept symptoms and soft signs as criteria if they cannot be verified objectively.

2. It is now specified that the lesion needs to affect the somatosensory system meaning that lesions or diseases outside the somatosensory pathways, e.g., the cerebellum, does not qualify as neuropathic.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition which represents a significant burden for patients, society and healthcare systems. The prevalence of neuropathic pain in the general population has been estimated at 6.9–10.0%.

Management includes effective pharmacotherapy options for patients with low back neuropathic pain like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine, venlafaxine), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline), and gabapentinoid antiseizure medications (pregabalin, gabapentin). All have been shown to be more effective than placebo in randomized trials, and limited comparative data suggest that efficacy is similar across agents

Gabapentin once-daily extended-release formulation has been developed using Gastro Retentive Innovative Device (GRID) technology by Sun Pharma . This formulation with GRID technology increases the bioavailability of gabapentin via two separate mechanisms

1. It releases the medication at a slower rate, which prevents saturation of the active transport mechanism.

2. Technology allows retention in the stomach for up to 8 hours, enabling delivery of gabapentin to the optimal site of absorption for approximately 10 hours.

Key advantages of the formulation include:

• Improves bioavailability of drugs with narrow zone of absorption in GI tract


• Floats instantaneously, Swells up to 6 times its initial volume


• Maintains physical integrity


• Flexible and soft


• Different types of release profiles possible (IR+ ER)


• Once – a day dosing improves patient compliance