Cost-effectiveness of pregabalin: a UK perspective.
The management of epilepsy and neuropathic pain poses a substantial burden on individuals and society with significant healthcare resource implications. Pregabalin has been approved for add-on treatment of adults with partial seizures with or without secondary generalization and for central and peripheral neuropathic pain syndromes. New antiepileptic drugs, such as pregabalin, have higher acquisition costs than established 'off-patent' drugs, but boast advantages in terms of efficacy, tolerability and side-effect profiles. There is, however, scant health economic research concerning the use of any current antiepileptic drugs used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain. This article reviews the available data on pregabalin. There are currently insufficient data to draw conclusions on cost-effectiveness regarding its use in epilepsy, neuropathic pain or other nonepileptic conditions. Long-term retention studies and prescribing practices may give an indication as to the effectiveness and tolerability of pregabalin and consequent cost-effectiveness analyses may then prove useful.
Johnston
Ann
A
Specialist Registrar in Neurology, The Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK. johnstonja@cardiff.ac.uk.
Hamandi
Khalid
K