title: Safety of pregabalin among hemodialysis patients suffering from uremic pruritus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the safety and probability of adverse events associated with the use of 75 mg pregabalin post hemodialysis (pHD) among patients with UP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study done among the hemodialysis patients suffering from uremic pruritus (UP) Aljaber Kidney Center (AJKC), Al-Ahsa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Assessment for the safety profile of pregabalin was done using Naranjo's algorithm. A predictive model was developed using binary multiple logistic regression to explore association of patients' demographics and risk factors with the occurrence of AEs. Throughout statistical significance level was considered significant at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment of safety of pregabalin revealed that somnolence and dizziness were the two frequent adverse events followed by constipation, weight gain and edema. However, it was noticed that female patients aged less than 50 years were found to be at a higher risk in comparison with men. Moreover, those patients having one comorbid complication (i.e. hypertension or diabetes mellitus alone) were at a higher risk of somnolence, weight gain and dry mouth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Naranjo's quantification for the possibility and probability of adverse events reflect that all the events were probable. Age, gender and comorbid medical conditions are some of the factors that might have clinical association with the occurrence of the AEs.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Bundar Sunway, 45700 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tahir Mehmood
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Director, Aljaber Kidney Center, Eastern Province, Alahsa, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul Aziz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alhafez
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syed Azhar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Syed Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Bundar Sunway, 45700 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: David Wu
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bin Chia
keywords: Adverse events; Post hemodialysis; Pregabalin; Uremic pruritus