Effectiveness and Safety of 75 mg and 150 mg Pregabalin for Postoperative Analgesia in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Double-Blinded Trial.

BACKGROUND

Pregabalin is being used as preemptive analgesic for better postoperative pain management. This present study was aimed at comparing effectiveness and safety of 75 mg and 150 mg of oral pregabalin given as premedication 1 h before the surgery.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This was prospective, randomized, and double-blinded placebo controlled study in which 90 patients were enrolled and randomized into three groups of 30 patients each. Groups P75 (given 75 mg pregabalin), P150 (given 150 mg pregabalin) and C (given placebo drug). Postoperative pain and sedation assessment were done. Adverse effects such as somnolence, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting were noted.

RESULTS

Pain was lowest in P150 group than P75 and control group at 2 h. The duration of analgesia was highest in the P150 group followed by the P75 group with the control group showing the shortest duration. A significant difference was observed in total tramadol consumption (P < 0.001) in three groups. Sedation scores were the highest in P150 followed by P75 and C (P < 0.001) during the 1st h. Somnolence was the highest in P150 group which was statistically significant. Difference in other side effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dryness of mouth was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Pregabalin is a safe drug and has good analgesic effect. Although the analgesic effectiveness of higher dose, i.e., 150 mg was better, adverse effect in terms of sedation was more. Hence, we suggest pregabalin 75 mg to be used preoperatively as it has demonstrated to have good analgesic effectiveness.