Pregabalin: In the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Authors: McKeage, Kate; Keam, Susan J.

Source: Drugs & Aging, Volume 26, Number 10, 1 October 2009 , pp. 883-892(10)

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Abstract:

▴ Pregabalin is the pharmacologically active S-enantiomer of 3-aminomethyl-5-methyl-hexanoic acid. It has a similar pharmacological profile to that of its developmental predecessor gabapentin, but had greater analgesic activity in rodent models of neuropathic pain.

▴ Pregabalin is thought to act by reducing the excessive release of several excitatory neurotransmitters by binding to the α₂-δ protein subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels.

▴ Oral pregabalin 150-600 mg/day, administered in two or three divided doses, was significantly more effective than placebo in relieving pain and improving pain-related sleep interference in four randomized, double-blind, multicentre studies of 4-13 weeks' duration in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

▴ Pregabalin achieved a faster onset of pain relief than placebo. The median times to the onset of pain relief with fixed and flexible doses of pregabalin were 1.5 and 3.5 days compared with >4 weeks with placebo.

▴ Pregabalin was generally well tolerated when titrated over 1 week to fixed dosages (maximum 600 mg/day) in clinical trials in mostly elderly PHN patients. Adverse events were usually mild to moderate in severity.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Adis, a Wolters Kluwer Business, Auckland, New Zealand

Publication date: 2009-10-01