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Study: Patients who respond to treatment with Lyrica for pain will likely respond by weeks 3 or 4
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A response to treatment with Lyrica in patients with pain from fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia or spinal cord injury occurred within 3 to 4 weeks on average, according to recently published research.
Researchers analyzed the data from five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of Lyrica (pregabalin, Pfizer) in 498 patients with fibromyalgia (FM), 514 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and 356 patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). All patients had an average pain score of four or higher on an 11-point scale at baseline.
The trials included doses of pregabalin ranging from 150 mg/day to 600 mg/day and were between 8 weeks and 16 weeks in duration. Responders to treatment were classified as having a 30% or greater or 50% or greater reduction in mean pain scores compared with baseline.
In patients with FM who received pregabalin, the number of patients who responded by 30% peaked in the second week, with 19.9% of patients showing 30% improvement compared with 7.7% of patients who received placebo in peak weeks 2 and 4.
At week 3 of the 6-week study, the number of 50% responders peaked with 13.1% of patients with FM showing a 50% improvement compared with a peak of 3.1% at week 4 in patients who received placebo. In the full 6-week analysis, 24% of patients with FM who received pregabalin were 50% responders compared with 10.5% of patients who received placebo.
The number of 30% responders in patients with DPN or PHN peaked in the third week with pregabalin and in the fourth week with placebo. Of 231 patients, 66.8% of patients who received pregabalin were 30% responders compared with 52.4% of patients who received placebo after 6 weeks. The number of 50% responders also peaked at week 3 with 12.9% of patients who received pregabalin compared with 12.6% of patients at peak week 4 who received placebo.
The 30% responders in patients with SCI peaked at week 3 with 21% of patients who received pregabalin compared with 10.2% who received placebo and peaked at week 2. Across the 6-week analysis, 59.2% of patients with pregabalin were 30% responders compared with 32.4% who received placebo, and 30.5% of patients who received pregabalin were 50% responders compared with 13.9% who received placebo.
Common adverse events included somnolence, dizziness, increased weight and constipation in patients with FM. Patients with SCI experienced somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue and peripheral edema. Patients with DPN or PHN had the fewest adverse events, and reported dizziness, peripheral edema, somnolence and weight gain as the most common adverse events.
The researchers concluded that physicians who treat patients with therapeutic doses of pregabalin can expect treatment response within the first 4 weeks among patients who are going to respond to the treatment; however, certain cases may warrant continued treatment for 6 weeks. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosures: Parsons reports he is an employee of and a shareholder for Pfizer. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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