Pregabalin for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Abstract

Painful symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been shown to be improved by treatment with the antiepileptic drug pregabalin. Freeman et al. performed a meta-analysis of 7 randomized, placebo-controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin treatment for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The trials were consistent in their inclusion and exclusion criteria, but involved a variety of doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/day) and dosing intervals (2 or 3 times per day). Pregabalin was found to be effective for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy at all doses and intervals reviewed. Additionally, higher pregabalin doses resulted in faster reduction in pain scores and sleep interference when compared with lower doses and placebo. The greatest and apparently most rapid pain reduction was observed in patients receiving pregabalin 600 mg/day, divided into 2 or 3 doses. On the basis of these findings, pregabalin can be a useful therapy for painful diabetic neuropathy.