The Effect of Pregabalin Treatment on Balance and Gait in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: a Retrospective Observational Study

Overview

Journal J Drug Assess

Date 2019 Mar 6

PMID 30834164

Citations 1

Authors

Sibel Caglar Okur

Meltem Vural

Yasemin Pekin Dogan

Murat Mert

Nil Sayiner Caglar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem, and is a major cause of loss of workforce. Chronic low back pain associated with radiculopathy often includes nociceptive and neuropathic components. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first choice for the nociceptive component, pregabalin is preferred as the neuropathic component. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 48 patients (26 women, 22 men) who had chronic low back pain associated with radiculopathy. A follow-up chart was used to collect data from February 2017 to November 2017. The patients characteristics (age, gender, initial daily dose of pregabalin), neuropathic pain (DN4 scale; Douleur Neuropathique, 4 questions), and balance and gait (Tinetti Balance and Gait Test) were assessed. The DN4 scores in the fourth ( < .001) and 12th ( < .001) weeks were significantly lower in patients. The Tinetti total test scores (23.2 ± 3.9) in the first ( > .001) week were significantly lower. There was no significant difference between the Tinetti test scores (balance, gait, and total scores) at baseline and in the 12th week ( > .001). Pregabalin is effective on neuropathic pain and may have adverse effects on balance at initial doses and dose increments. Tolerance develops to these effects at maintenance doses.

Citing Articles

The effectiveness of pregabalin with or without agomelatine in the treatment of chronic low back pain: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Mahdavi S, Shariati B, Shalbafan M, Rashedi V, Yarahmadi M, Ghaznavi A BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2022; 23(1):70.

PMID: 36104745 PMC: 9476640. DOI: 10.1186/s40360-022-00612-3.

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