In 2008, after the decompression surgery, the patient was given pregabalin (titrated to 300 mg, twice daily) for ongoing neuropathic pain. Increasing peripheral edema in the patient’s legs was documented from that time on. In 2011, chronic wounds with serous drainage developed on the patient’s legs. Patients were switched from gabapentin to pregabalin using one-sixth the dose of gabapentin with unchanged dosage frequency. After switching medications, patients reported similar pain relief and side effects, with the exception of an increased incidence of peripheral edema in the pregabalin group. Gabapentin and pregabalin are antiepileptic drugs commonly used for neuropathic pain management and pain reduction in adults. Both medications are classified as antiepileptic medications, but they have differences in pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and clinical applications. Pregabalin and gabapentin are both medications that belong to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants, which are primarily used to treat seizures and certain types of nerve pain. While they are similar in some ways, there are also some important differences between the two. 1. Mechanism of action: Lyrica may also be used to treat neuropathic (nerve) pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia, spinal cord injury, and fibromyalgia Gabapentin may also be used to treat nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster) and gabapentin enacarbil, brand name Horizant, is also approved for restless legs syndrome (RLS). It was suggested that the analgesic action of pregabalin in PHN was six times that of gabapentin in terms of effectiveness in dosage conversion. Regarding the side effects, although the incidence of the peripheral edema was higher with pregabalin compared with gabapentin, this finding is not conclus In this context, the objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate and compare pregabalin vs. gabapentin in terms of efficacy and safety in the treatment of neuropathic pain, aiming to provide a solid foundation for clinical decision-making and improve the management of this condition in medical practice. 2. Methods 2.1. Eligibility criteria Both drugs can also cause peripheral edema and nausea. 3,5 Gabapentin may also cause ataxia and diarrhea and additional side effects of pregabalin include headache, dry mouth, vision changes, and constipation. 3,5 In terms of comparative efficacy, Lyrica and gabapentin are both effective for reducing symptoms of pain. Most studies find negligible difference in terms of which is more effective. Some studies suggest however that Lyrica may be more-so in certain individuals due to its potency and better absorption. Gabapentinoids can cause concentration-dependent peripheral edema of early onset. The primary mechanism of non-cardiogenic peripheral edema is vasodilatory edema secondary to altered myogenic tone, independent of Ca<sub>v</sub>1.2 blockade under the experimental conditions tested. Gabapentin advantages over Pregabalin. Gabapentin is less addictive than pregabalin 10. Unlike pregabalin, gabapentin is not scheduled as a controlled substance. Gabapentin is not associated with peripheral edema 9. Gabapentin is more effective in controlling pain in patients with painful bladder syndrome 14. Difference between Gabapentin and Peripheral edema in a 76-year-old woman taking pregabalin for neuropathic pain. Pregabalin is used to treat neuropathic pain. The drug’s likely mechanism of action is binding to the α 2 δ subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels in presynaptic neurons, thereby reducing the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. In all pregabalin-treated groups, 15.2% had edema or peripheral edema, 6.0% had a ≥7% weight increase, and 2.3% had both weight increase and edema. In comparison, in the placebo-administered group, 7.3% had edema or peripheral edema, 1.5% had a ≥7% weight increase, and 0.2% had both. The association of widely used neurological agents gabapentin and pregabalin and heart failure (HF) is not widely known, although fluid retention after their use in the form of peripheral edema has been recognized. Gabapentin may also cause some confusion and peripheral edema, while pregabalin is sometimes associated with dry mouth, blurred vision, and peripheral edema. Let’s compare the affordability of gabapentin versus pregabalin. Gabapentin and pregabalin are FDA-approved to treat some of the same conditions, including postherpetic neuralgia in adults. Both drugs are also indicated to treat partial seizures in adults and certain children with epilepsy (a seizure disorder) when taken along with other medication. In this study, pregabalin was involved in 44 cases of non-cardiogenic peripheral edema compared to only 5 cases with gabapentin. It could be explained by the greater use of pregabalin in France, with approximately four times more new users between 2006 and 2014 compared to gabapentin [2] . A systematic review of randomized controlled trials involving pregabalin found a 4-fold increased incidence of peripheral edema, which may be associated with heart failure. Since these trials included patients who were healthier and more closely monitored than the general population, this risk of edema or heart failure may actually be higher [ 7 ]. Pooled risk ratio (RR) of pregabalin (PGB) vs. gabapentin (GBP) for adverse events (AEs). There was no significant difference between two drugs for AEs. CI: confidence interval, df: degree of freedom. PGB vs. placebo: Drowsiness, dizziness, edema, and peripheral edema were the most common AEs in the selected studies [41,43,44]. Peripheral edema (swelling in the hands, legs, and feet) is another possible side effect occurring in 6% of Pregabalin patients [11]. Gabapentin has also been associated with weight gain, though the risk is generally lower than with pregabalin.
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