Gabapentin Premedication to Reduce Postoperative Pain for Pediatric Tonsillectomy

This double blinded randomized control trial will enroll 50 children age 3-18 years, undergoing T/As from a regional healthcare organization. Patients will be receiving either one gabapentin dose (15mg/kg up to 600mg) or placebo preoperatively. Both control and test group will receive the standard narcotic regimen intraoperatively. Additionally, young children will receive instruction for Tylenol and Motrin postoperatively while teenagers will receive a narcotic prescription. Outcome measurements include: mean Tylenol mg/kg, Motrin mg/kg and narcotic mg/kg use. Additional measurements: Mean time to first analgesic. Phone interviews with the research nurse for three days postoperatively will elicit pain scores at 12, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively.