• Chike Okolo, Robert Malmstrom, Karsten Duncan, and Julio Lopez.
• Chike Okolo, Pharm.D., is Oncology Pharmacist, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS), Sacramento; when this study was performed, he was Postgraduate Year 1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, VANCHCS. Robert Malmstrom, Pharm.D., and Karsten Duncan, Pharm.D., are Pharmacoeconomics Clinical Pharmacists; and Julio Lopez, Pharm.D., is Chief, Pharmacy Service Line, VANCHCS. chike.okolo@va.gov.
• Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2015 Sep 1; 72 (17 Suppl 2): S74-8.

PurposeResults of a study analyzing economic and clinical outcomes one year after conversion from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing for pain are presented.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted at two Veterans Affairs facilities. The analyzed population included all patients receiving pregabalin for pain whose dosing was converted from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing during a one-year period. The primary endpoint was the economic impact of the conversion. Secondary endpoints included reversion to thrice-daily pregabalin dosing, pregabalin discontinuation, addition of medications for pain, and unscheduled neuropathy-related visits.ResultsAmong the 57 patients included in the data analysis, 41 continued to take pregabalin twice daily, 10 had pregabalin discontinued, and 6 had dosing reverted to thrice daily. The mean age of patients and the distribution of add-on pain medications did not differ significantly between patients whose pregabalin dosing frequency remained at twice daily and patients whose frequency reverted to thrice daily. The costs associated with pregabalin therapy differed significantly between the preconversion and postconversion periods. A savings of $115,867 was realized from this conversion for both facilities combined over the course of one year.ConclusionIn patients receiving pregabalin for pain, conversion from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing-while maintaining the same daily dose-resulted in substantial cost savings while having little effect on clinical outcomes.Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved.

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