• Mika Baba and Ikuo Gomyo.
• Department of Palliative Care, Saito Yukoukai Hospital, Ibaraki 567-0085.
• Masui. 2012 Feb 1;61(2):147-54.

BackgroundEvidence to support the use of pregabalin in combination with opioid analgesics for the treatment of cancer-related neuropathic pain is limited.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective investigation on patients hospitalized in our department with cancer-related neuropathic pain and under pregabalin treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: A group (= < 300 mg pregabalin daily) and B group (> 300 mg pregabalin daily). The two groups were compared in terms of a suite of factors (e. g., age starting and maimtenance dose of pregabaline, adverse effect).ResultsPatient's age was significantly lower in the B group (> 300 mg pregabalin daily). Of the total number of patients involved in the study, 67% experienced mild and moderate somnolence.ConclusionsIn this retrospective investigation, we conclude that the younger cancer patients may need lager doses of pregabalin to relieve cancer-related neuropathic pain. In addition, the mild and moderate somnolence occurs frequently when pregabalin is administered with opioid analgesics for the treatment of cancer-related neuropathic pain.

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