Pregabalin augmentation of quetiapine therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia: an open-label, prospective trial.
BACKGROUND
Quetiapine has been shown to improve fibromyalgia symptoms, especially sleep disturbance, fatigue, morning stiffness, and mental well-being, but lacks an effect on pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if pregabalin, which has shown antialgic activity in fibromyalgia, added to quetiapine treatment additionally improved fibromyalgia symptomatology.


METHODS
This was an open-label, 12-week study. Pregabalin was administered to 19 female fibromyalgia patients at a starting dose of 75 mg/day subsequently adjusted in according to the drug's efficacy and tolerability. Outcome measures included the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the SF-12 Health Survey.


RESULTS
Data analysis was done on the Intention-To-Treat sample which included 18 patients. Pregabalin significantly improved the pain and tiredness after awakening subscales of the FIQ as well as the physical component of the SF-12. Six patients withdrew from the study, 3 because of side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the use of pregabalin can be a useful augmentation strategy in fibromyalgia patients partially responding to quetiapine.
Calandre
E P
EP
Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. calandre@gmail.com
Morillas-Arques
P
P
Rodriguez-Lopez
C M
CM
Rico-Villademoros
F
F
Hidalgo
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid