Trigeminal neuralgia treated with pregabalin in family medicine settings: its effect on pain alleviation and cost reduction.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of pregabalin (PGB) on pain alleviation, use of health care and non-health care resources, and associated costs in patients with trigeminal neuralgia under usual clinical practice in primary care settings. Sixty-five PGB-naïve patients receiving PGB as monotherapy (n = 36, 55%) or combined with other drugs (n = 29, 45%) fulfill criteria for inclusion in a secondary analysis from a 12-week, multicenter, observational prospective study aimed to ascertain the cost of illness in subjects with neuropathic pain. Pain is evaluated using the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Use of health care and non-health care resources and lost workdays equivalents (LWDEs) are also recorded. PGB significantly reduces pain scores, use of health care resources (ancillary tests and unscheduled medical visits), and number of LWDEs. Additional cost of PGB treatment (+euro 174 +/- 106) is broadly compensated for by a reduction in both health care costs (-euro 621 +/-1211, P < .001) and indirect costs (-euro 1210 +/- 1141, P < .001). It is concluded that PGB as monotherapy or combined with other drugs is effective in pain management in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and reduces the cost of illness.
Pérez
Concepción
C
Unidad del Dolor, Hospital de La Princesa, C/Diego de León, Madrid, Spain. cperez.hlpr@salud.madrid.org
Saldaña
María T
MT
Navarro
Ana
A
Martínez
Silvia
S
Rejas
Javier
J
D000041:Absenteeism; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid