Bodyweight gain under pregabalin therapy in epilepsy: mitigation by counseling patients?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate bodyweight gain during pregabalin therapy for epilepsy and the utility of a short counseling program to prevent this side effect.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial on the effects of extended versus standard patient counseling on the risk of bodyweight gain with 3- and 6-month follow-up including a consecutive sample of adult outpatients with epilepsy eligible for pregabalin add-on treatment (N=98).


RESULTS
The seizure response rate was about 30%, the seizure freedom rate was 5% at the 6-month follow-up (intent-to-treat sample, N=98). The median bodyweight gain for the according-to-protocol sample (N=62) was 4.0 kg with no effect of extended counseling. Bodyweight gain was correlated with number of anticonvulsant drugs (r=.32, p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Pregabalin treatment is associated with a high risk for bodyweight gain which in part depends on total anticonvulsant drug load. This side effect cannot be prevented by extended patient counseling within a standard clinical setting.
Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. christian.hoppe@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Christian
C
Hoppe
Michael
M
Rademacher
Judith M
JM
Hoffmann
Dieter
D
Schmidt
Christian E
CE
Elger
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003376:Counseling; D004032:Diet; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000069583:Pregabalin; D012306:Risk; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid