[Effectiveness and time to onset of pregabalin in patients with neuropathic pain].
BACKGROUND
The data from a previously published 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study on the efficacy and safety of pregabalin were analyzed for time to onset of analgesic action with neuropathic pain.


METHODS
A total of 338 patients with postherpetic neuralgia or painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy were treated with flexible or fixed regimens of pregabalin at daily doses of up to 600 mg/day (n=141 and 132, respectively) or placebo (n=65).


RESULTS
Under fixed dose treatment, a decrease of one full point on the 11-point numerical rating pain scale was reached on day 1, two full points on day 13, and three full points on day 23 (under flexible dose pregabalin: on days 6, 17 and 30). In both treatment arms, pain reduction was statistically significant (P=0.001, P=0.002 vs placebo, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with chronic neuropathic pain, the analgesic effect of both pregabalin treatment regimens was high and associated with a rapid time to onset.
Freynhagen
R
R
Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf. Freynhagen@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Busche
P
P
Konrad
C
C
Balkenohl
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid