Pregabalin in patients with postoperative dental pain

Pregabalin is an analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobut yric acid. In preclinical models, it has shown activity as an analgesic age nt. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial wa s undertaken to compare pregabalin to placebo and 400 mg of ibuprofen using a dental pain model. Study medication was administered postoperatively to patients who had undergone elective surgery to remove one or two third mola rs, at least one of which was mandibular and fully or partially impacted in bone. The study was conducted in the UK at a single centre and evaluated p regabalin at doses of 50 and 300 mg. Primary efficacy parameters included p ain relief (PR), pain intensity difference (PID), pain relief intensity dif ference (PRID), time to onset of analgesia, and duration of analgesia. The patient's global impression of the study medication was used as a secondary efficacy parameter. Efficacy data were evaluated for the intent-to-treat ( ITT) population, defined as all randomized patients who took study medicati on. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in PR, PID, and PRID between the 300-mg pregabalin group and placebo. In addi tion, the 300-mg pregabalin group had a significantly longer duration of an algesia than the ibuprofen group and had the highest score on the patient g lobal impression of study medication. Adverse events were reported more fre quently in the pregabalin 300-mg group. Pregabalin appears to have significant analgesic properties in the third mo lar extraction model. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. (C) 2001 European federation of chapters of the International Association for the study of Pain.