• M Xochilcal-Morales, E M Castro, J Guajardo-Rosas, T N Obregón, J C Acevedo, J M G Chucan, R Plancarte-Sanchez, G Davila, D Wajsbrot, M Guerrero, and R Vinueza.
• Centro de Investigacion Clinica del Pacifico, Acapulco, Mexico.
• Int. J. Clin. Pract. 2010 Aug 1;64(9):1301-9.

AimsThe objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pregabalin at flexible doses of 150-600 mg/day in Latin American patients with neuropathic pain.MethodsA prospective, multicentre, open-label, non-comparative study included patients age >or= 18 years diagnosed with neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP), or human immunodeficiency virus-related PNP. Eligible patients (N = 121) had a score of >or= 40 mm on the visual analogue scale and a daily pain rating scale (DPRS) score of >or= 4 throughout screening. Patients received flexible-dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) for 12 weeks, which included a 4-week dose-adjustment phase. The primary efficacy measure was change from baseline to end of treatment/last observation carried forward (EOT/LOCF) in weekly mean pain score on the DPRS. Secondary efficacy measures included pain, anxiety, sleep interference, treatment satisfaction and Patient and Clinician Global Impression of Change.ResultsPregabalin significantly reduced the weekly mean pain score on DPRS from baseline to EOT/LOCF [-3.8 (95% CI: -4.2 to -3.3); p < 0.0001]. Reductions from baseline to EOT/LOCF were observed for all secondary efficacy outcomes (p < 0.0001). Pain and sleep interference were significantly improved compared with baseline across all weeks of the study, as early as 1 week after initiation of pregabalin (p < 0.0001). The most common adverse events (AEs) were somnolence, dizziness, weight gain and peripheral oedema. Nine (7.4%) patients discontinued the study because of AEs and 25 (20.7%) temporarily stopped or reduced their pregabalin dose because of AEs.ConclusionsFlexible-dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) significantly reduced pain and anxiety and improved sleep and was generally well tolerated in Latin American patients with neuropathic pain.

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