title: Pharmacoeconomic outcomes for pregabalin: a systematic review in neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and epilepsy from a Spanish perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant approved in Europe for the treatment of neuropathic pain, as an adjunct therapy for epileptic seizures, and recently for generalized anxiety disorder. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pregabalin associated with the treatment of its labeled indications from a societal perspective in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the MEDLINE database were searched using algorithms to identify relevant economic evaluations published in English or Spanish on pregabalin for the management of neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and epilepsy in Spanish patients over the last 10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 52 potentially relevant abstracts were identified from the MEDLINE database. Twenty manuscripts met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the selected papers (14/20) evaluated pregabalin for neuropathic pain from a societal perspective in Spain (5 economic models of pregabalin vs. gabapentin, 4 economic analyses of pregabalin in comparison with usual care, 4 economic evaluations comparing pregabalin monotherapy with add-on strategies, and one that evaluated different times of initiating pregabalin therapy). Five studies analyzed the use of pregabalin in Spain for the management of GAD (one cost-effectiveness model that compared pregabalin with venlafaxine, 2 secondary analyses in benzodiazepine-refractory patients, and 2 studies evaluating pregabalin vs. usual care in patients refractory to standard regimens). The last manuscript described a cost-effectiveness model that compared pregabalin versus levetiracetam use for the treatment of refractory partial epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of published evidence supports the possibility that pregabalin could be a cost-effective and/or cost-saving alternative for the treatment of refractory epilepsy, GAD, and neuropathic pain, in both treatment-naïve patients and in those who have demonstrated inadequate response or intolerance to previous therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, darba@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darbà
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaskens
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navarro-Artieda
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sicras-Mainar
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid