Gabapentin versus pregabalin in improving sleep quality and depression in hemodialysis patients with peripheral neuropathy: a randomized prospective crossover trial.
OBJECTIVE
In dialysis patients, painful peripheral neuropathy (PPN) is associated with sleep disturbance and mood disorders. Our goal was to compare the effects of gabapentin and pregabalin on improving sleep quality and depression among hemodialysis patients with PPN.


METHODS
Fifty hemodialysis patients with PPN were randomized into 2 groups, to receive gabapentin and pregabalin, respectively. After 6 weeks of treatment, patients underwent a 2-week washout period, followed by crossover and another 6 weeks of treatment. All patients underwent electromyography (EMG) at the outset and completed the modified Short Form of McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQI) assessment at baseline and at the end of the study. Forty out of 50 patients completed the 14-week study period.


RESULTS
Thirty-one out of 40 patients (77.5 %) had EMG-proven PPN. Both gabapentin and pregabalin significantly improved SF-MPQ, BDI and PSQI scores at the end of the study compared with pretreatment scores (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two drugs in any studied parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed for the first time a good and similar efficacy of both drugs on pain intensity, quality of sleep and depression in hemodialysis patients with PPN.
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Meram School of Medicine, Meram Tip Fakultesi, Hemodiyaliz Sekreterligi, Selcuk University, Meram, Konya, Turkey.
Zeynep
Z
Biyik
Yalcin
Y
Solak
Huseyin
H
Atalay
Abduzhappar
A
Gaipov
Figen
F
Guney
Suleyman
S
Turk
D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000588:Amines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin