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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity
Published on: April 26, 2012
Role of pregabalin in treatment of oxaliplatin-induced sensory neuropathy
Muhammad Wasif Saif1, Kostas Syrigos, Kristin Kaley
1Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, 333 Cedar Street; FMP 116, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. wasif.saif@yale.edu
Background:
Oxaliplatin use in gastrointestinal malignancies is limited by neurotoxicity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of pregabalin (LYRICA(R)) in the treatment of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity.
Patients And Methods:
A total of 23 gastrointestinal cancer patients with grade 2 and 3 oxaliplatin-induced sensory neuropathy were treated with pregabalin up to a target dose of 150mg orally (PO) three times a day (tid) based on benefit and tolerance. Neurological symptoms were serially evaluated.
Results:
The target dose of 150 mg tid provided the best benefit, but patients benefited even at lower doses. Onset of benefit was observed in 2-6 weeks. In the majority of patients (48%), neuropathy improved by 1 to 2 grades.
Conclusion:
Pregabalin significantly reduced the severity of oxaliplatin-induced sensory neuropathy. Being more potent than gabapentin, pregabalin achieved efficacy at lower doses and should lead to fewer dose-related side effects, although this remains to be established in a head-to-head trial.
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