Pregabalin adverse effects

Pregabalin produced anxiolytic effects similar to lorazepam, alprazolam, and venlafaxine in acute trials. Sedation and dizziness were the most common adverse effects, and the dose should be tapered over 1 week upon discontinuation. 

Pregabalin is generally well-tolerated, with only mild adverse effects... 

The clinical pharmacology and adverse effects of some new antiepileptic drugs (ganaxolone, levetiracetam, losi-gamone, pregabalin, remacemide, rufinamide, stiripentol, and zonisamide) have been reviewed (1). 

Kamel JT, D Souza WJ, Cook MJ. Severe and disabling constipation an adverse effect of pregabalin. Epilepsia 2010 51 (6) 1094-6. 

The most frequent adverse effects of pregabalin are dizziness and drowsiness other common effects 3QQ include visual disturbances, ataxia, dysarthria, tremor, lethargy, memory impairment, euphoria, constipa-... 

Observational studies In 15 patients with familial dysautonomia, pregabalin up to a dose of 6 mg/kg/day gave good results in the treatment of nausea and dysautonomic crises [261 ]. Adverse effects included peripheral edema in one patient who... 

In an open study, 30 children, who had been treated for solid tumors and leukemia and had developed a painful peripheral neuropathy, were given pregabalin 150-300 mg/day for 8 weeks [263 ]. There was significant long-lasting pain relief in 25 them. There were mild or moderate adverse effects nausea and drowsiness in the titration phase) in four patients drug withdrawal was not required. 

Pregabalin and celecoxib, alone and in combination, have been evaluated in the treatment of chronic low-back pain in 36 patients in a 12-week, randomized, crossover study [267 ]. The combination was more effective than either monotherapy. Adverse effects were recorded in 16 patients and four patients withdrew as a result. Five patients reported nausea or dizziness during treatment with pregabalin and seven had similar symptoms during treatment with celecoxib -I- pregabalin. 

Of 20 patients with essential tremor who were randomized to pregabalin 150-600 mg/day or placebo in a double-blind, crossover study four withdrew during pregabalin treatment because of postural instability, nausea, and dizziness (two cases) [269 ]. Other adverse effects were mild to moderate in intensity. More common during pregabalin versus placebo were drowsiness (pregabalin 5 versus placebo 3), dizziness (4 versus 1), and fatigue (3 versus 0). 

Tramadol 100 mg/day has been compared with ibuprofen and pregabalin in 20 healthy volunteers [173 ]. Tramadol was associated with mild adverse effects, mainly fatigue/drowsiness (eight episodes), nausea/ vomiting (seven), dizziness/headache/dijfi-culty in concentrating (seven). The NNTh for tramadol was 1.6. 

Systematic reviews A meta-analysis of pregabalin use in generalized anxiety disorder found that the most adverse effects reported were somnolence, dizziness, headache, and dry mouth [142 ]. 

A meta-analysis of pregabalin safety in Japan as compared to Western coxmtries [143 ] found that dizziness and somnolence were the most common adverse effects, and that they tended to occur early in the course of pregabalin treatment and later resolved. A slightly higher incidence of dizziness and somnolence was reported in Japanese studies as compared to those from Western nations. The authors speculated that this may be related to the lower mean body weight in the Japanese population leading to a higher mg/kg dose. 

Partiai-onset seizures Pregabalin, at doses of 150 to 600 mg/day, has been shown to be effective as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults. The total daily dose should be divided and given 2 or 3 times daily. The efficacy and adverse reaction profiles of pregabalin have been shown to be dose related. In general, it is recommended that patients be started on a total daily dose no greater than 150 mg/day (75 mg 2 times a day, or 50 mg 3 times a day). Based on individual patient response and tolerability, the dose may be increased to a maximum dose of 600 mg/day. 

It is well tolerated less than 10% of patients will discontinue the use of pregabalin as a consequence of adverse side effects. 

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