Pregabalin in treatment-refractory fibromyalgia
Brett R Stacey1, Birol Emir, Danielle Petersel
1Comprehensive Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
The Open Rheumatology Journal
|January 29, 2011
Summary
Pregabalin effectively reduced pain in fibromyalgia patients refractory to other treatments. Pain relief was significant during treatment cycles but returned during drug holidays, with somnolence and dizziness as common side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder often resistant to standard treatments like antidepressants and opioids.
- Intractable pain in fibromyalgia necessitates exploring alternative therapeutic options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of pregabalin in fibromyalgia patients whose pain persisted despite prior treatments.
- To evaluate pregabalin's effectiveness in a specific patient subgroup with refractory fibromyalgia pain.
Main Methods:
- A 15-month study involving 25 fibromyalgia patients with moderate-to-severe pain refractory to gabapentin, tricyclic antidepressants, and other medications.
- Patients received flexible-dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) in 3-month cycles, followed by drug holidays until relapse.
- Pain intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- 19 of 25 patients completed the study; 88% were on concurrent pain medication at baseline.
- Pregabalin demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful pain reduction during treatment cycles.
- Pain levels returned to baseline within 2-4 days during pregabalin drug holidays.
- The most frequent adverse events were somnolence (n=5) and dizziness (n=4).
Conclusions:
- Pregabalin shows potential benefit for fibromyalgia patients experiencing inadequate pain relief from other medications.
- The study suggests pregabalin as a viable option for managing refractory fibromyalgia pain.
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