title: A signal for an abuse liability for pregabalin--results from the Swedish spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregabalin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue approved for the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain and generalised anxiety disorder. As a GABA analogue, there has been some concern about an abuse liability. We aimed to investigate the possible abuse liability of pregabalin.
  
  
  METHODS
  By applying a Bayesian data-mining algorithm to reports of possible drug abuse or addiction in the Swedish national register of adverse drug reactions (SWEDIS), we calculated the information component (IC) for pregabalin and reports of abuse and addiction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 198 reports indicative of abuse or addiction to any drug, 16 concerned pregabalin. The IC became significantly elevated in the fourth quarter of 2008, rising to 3.99 (95% confidence interval 3.21-4.59) at the end of 2009.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the signal from the present study, we conclude that pregabalin is likely to be associated with an abuse potential.
authors.affiliation: Uppsala Drug Information Center, Uppsala County Council, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwan
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundström
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stjernberg
authors.forename: Ebba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hallberg
authors.forename: Pär
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hallberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000465:Algorithms; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069583:Pregabalin; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid