Pregabalin: A Review of its Use in Fibromyalgia
Abstract
Oral pregabalin, a calcium channel alpha(2)delta-subunit ligand with analgesic, anxiolytic and antiepileptic activity, has shown efficacy in the treatment of fibromyalgia. It has a multidimensional effect in the treatment of this complex condition, and is associated with rapid and clinically significant improvements in several outcome measures relating to core symptoms of the syndrome, including pain and sleep, in patients with long-standing fibromyalgia. Pregabalin treatment is also associated with improvements in the overall health status of these patients. The beneficial effects of pregabalin are durable in patients with an initial response to the drug. The most common adverse events associated with the drug are dizziness and somnolence, which are generally mild to moderate in intensity and are tolerated by many patients. Pregabalin is, therefore, a valuable option in the first-line treatment of patients with fibromyalgia.
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Pregabalin is a structural analog of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
“Pregabalin is a structural analog of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).”
From Comparative Efficacy and Harms of Duloxetine, Milnacipran, and Pregabalin in Fibromyalgia Syndrome (2010) · cites this paper as [42]
Pregabalin is a ligand to the alpha-2-delta subunit on voltage-gated calcium channels, which reduces calcium influx at nerve terminals and decreases the release of several neurotransmitters, including glutamate, norepinephrine, and substance P.
“This second-generation antiepileptic is a ligand to the alpha-2-delta subunit on voltage-gated calcium channels, which reduces calcium influx at nerve terminals resulting in a decreased release of several neurotransmitters, including glutamate, norepinephrine, and substance P.”
From Comparative Efficacy and Harms of Duloxetine, Milnacipran, and Pregabalin in Fibromyalgia Syndrome (2010) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Lyseng-Williamson, K. A., & Siddiqui, M. A. A.
- Affiliations
- Wolters Kluwer Health (NZ)
- Corresponding author
- Lyseng-Williamson, Katherine A
- Venue
- Drugs
- Published
- 2008
- Volume
- 68
- Issue
- 15
- Pages
- 2205-2223
- ISSN
- 0012-6667 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2033371164
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drugs (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- pregabalin, fibromyalgia, alpha2delta subunit, voltage-gated calcium channels, analgesic efficacy, sleep quality, anxiety, adverse events, dizziness, sleepiness, pharmacokinetics, first-line therapy, health-related quality of life, antiepileptic drugs, anxiolytics
- MeSH terms
- Pregabalin, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal, Clinical Trials as Topic, Drug Interactions, Fibromyalgia, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Humans, Endpoint Determination
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