Clinical Application of Pregabalin for the Treatments of Neuropathic Pain and Fibromyalgia: A Literature Review

Abstract

Pregabalin is a selective ligand with high affinity to theα_2-δsubunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. The inhibitory mechanism of pregabalin leads to the analgesic, anxiolytic and antiepileptic effects. Numerous controlled trials had demonstrated the advantageous efficacy, safety and tolerability of pregabalin in treatments for several distinct diseases e.g., partial epilepsy, central and peripheral neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, restless legs syndrome, and fibromyalgia. This article focuses on treatments of neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, and the superiority of pregabalin comparing with gabapentin.