Pregabalin and gabapentin for post-photorefractive keratectomy pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin and gabapentin for reducing post-photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) pain.

METHODS:

In this randomized clinical trial, 150 subjects undergoing PRK were allocated into 3 groups. In addition to the routine regimen, pregabalin 75 mg, gabapentin 300 mg, and placebo were administered 3 times daily for 3 days, in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Subjects could take acetaminophen-codeine 300/10 mg tablets every 4 hours as needed. Patients completed a pain assessment survey (visual analogue scale ranging from 0 = no pain to 10 = most severe pain) 7 times in the first 3 days following PRK and also recorded the number of consumed acetaminophen-codeine tablets.

RESULTS:

Age, sex, refractive error, ablation depth, and mitomycin-C (MMC) application were similar in the 3 study groups (all p values>0.05). Overall pain scores in the placebo group were 0.9 and 1 unit higher than the pregabalin (p=0.029) and gabapentin (p=0.023) groups, respectively. Severe pain (score >7) was more frequent in the placebo group on the morning of the first postoperative day (p=0.043). The difference in the number of consumed acetaminophen-codeine tablets was statistically borderline (p=0.061) and less in the pregabalin (7.9 ± 5.2) and gabapentin (9.0 ± 4.1) groups in comparison to the placebo group (10.3 ± 5.6).

CONCLUSIONS:

Pregabalin and gabapentin seem to be helpful in alleviating post-PRK pain when combined with other measures. Depending on availability, either compound can be used as an adjuvant for pain control in this setting.

• Authors: Mohammad Pakravan, Maryam Roshani, Shahin Yazdani, Amir Faramazi, Mehdi Yaseri
• Journal: European journal of ophthalmology (Eur J Ophthalmol) Vol. 22 Suppl 7 Pg. S106-13 ( 2012) ISSN: 1724-6016 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22577038 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amines
• Analgesics
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
• Drug Combinations
• acetaminophen, codeine drug combination
• Acetaminophen
• Pregabalin
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Gabapentin
• Codeine

Topics

• Acetaminophen (therapeutic use)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Amines (therapeutic use)
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Codeine (therapeutic use)
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Combinations
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Eye Pain (prevention & control)
• Female
• Gabapentin
• Humans
• Male
• Pain Measurement
• Pain, Postoperative (prevention & control)
• Photorefractive Keratectomy
• Pregabalin
• Prospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)