Pregabalin for peripheral neuropathic pain

Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant drug that is under review for use in Canada. It was recently approved in the US and Europe for the treatment of adults with peripheral neuropathic pain (NeP). In most short-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pregabalin in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and or post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), there were early and significant decreases in mean pain scores. The number of subjects with > 50% reduction in pain score was increased when pregabalin was compared to placebo. The most common adverse effects were dizziness and sleepiness. Withdrawal due to adverse events was also more frequent with pregabalin than with placebo. While pregabalin appears to be an effective treatment for NeP, there is no evidence that it offers advantages over treatments being used in Canada.