title: Transdermal administration of aqueous pregabalin solution as a potential treatment option for patients with neuropathic pain to avoid central nervous system-mediated side effects.
abstract: Pregabalin, (S)-3-isobutyl-γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is a widely used adjuvant therapy for patients with neuropathic pain, which is defined as chronic pain caused by lesions or diseases of the somatosensory nervous system. However, dizziness and somnolence (sleepiness) are common dose-limiting side effects, probably due to excessive sedative effects on higher centers of the central nervous system (CNS) which are involved in the anticonvulsant and analgesic actions of pregabalin. We speculated that transdermal delivery would minimize centrally mediated side effects. To test this idea, we evaluated the analgesic effects of pregabalin delivered through the transdermal route in animal models of neuropathic pain. Transdermally administered pregabalin increased the pain thresholds in response to mechanical stimuli in a partial sciatic nerve ligation model in rats and a spinal nerve ligation model in mice, and surprisingly also in normal animals. It is noteworthy that simple transdermal application of an aqueous solution of pregabalin is effective. This could be a useful treatment option to avoid or minimize the CNS-mediated side effects of orally administered pregabalin.
authors.affiliation: Research Foundation ITSUU Laboratory.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukasawa
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muratake
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagae
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shudo
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System; D004244:Dizziness / Q000517:prevention & control; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000517:prevention & control; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D012996:Solutions; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000601:surgery; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D012996:Solutions; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid