[Long-term efficacy and safety of pregabalin in patients with postherpetic neuralgia: results of a 52-week, open-label, flexible-dose study].
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of pregabalin was demonstrated in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 13-week trial in 371 Japanese patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). In this study, we evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of pregabalin for relief of PHN.


METHODS
126 patients were enrolled from the preceding double-blind study into the 52-week open-label study. Patients were given pregabalin 150 to 600 mg x day(-1). Pain intensity was measured using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ: total score, visual analogue scale and present pain intensity).


RESULTS
The efficacy parameter SF-MPQ showed a decrease over the treatment-term. The changes of visual analogue scale and present pain intensity at the endpoint were -28.3 mm and -1.1 score, respectively. The commonly reported adverse events were dizziness, somnolence, peripheral edema and weight gain, and most of them were mild to moderate in intensity. No new adverse events were observed due to long-term pregabalin administration.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that long-term treatment of pregabalin may be beneficial in patients with PHN.
Ogawa
Setsuro
S
Surugadai Nihon University Hospital/Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 101-8309.
Suzuki
Makoto
M
Arakawa
Akio
A
Yoshiyama
Tamotsu
T
Suzuki
Misaki
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000700:Analgesics; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid