title: Safety and efficacy of pregabalin in patients with central post-stroke pain.
abstract: Pregabalin has demonstrated efficacy in several forms of neuropathic pain, but its long-term efficacy in central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is unproven. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin versus placebo in patients with CPSP. A 13-week, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of 150 to 600 mg/day pregabalin was conducted in patients aged ≥18 years with CPSP. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean pain score on the Daily Pain Rating Scale over the last 7 days on study drug up to week 12 or early termination visit. Secondary endpoints included other pain parameters and patient-reported sleep and health-related quality-of-life measures. A total of 219 patients were treated (pregabalin n=110; placebo n=109). A mean pain score at baseline of 6.5 in the pregabalin group and 6.3 in the placebo group reduced at endpoint to 4.9 in the pregabalin group and 5.0 in the placebo group (LS mean difference=-0.2; 95% CI=-0.7, 0.4; P=0.578). Treatment with pregabalin resulted in significant improvements, compared with placebo, on secondary endpoints including MOS-sleep, HADS-A anxiety, and clinician global impression of change (CGIC) P<0.05. Adverse events were more frequent with pregabalin than with placebo and caused discontinuation in 9 (8.2%) of pregabalin patients versus 4 (3.7%) of placebo patients. Although pain reductions at endpoint did not differ significantly between pregabalin and placebo, improvements in sleep, anxiety, and CGIC suggest some utility of pregabalin in the management of CPSP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA UBC Scientific Solutions, Southport, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jong S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bashford
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Vardit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dror
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D000069583:Pregabalin; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid