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Incremental pregabalin therapy markedly improves pain control and quality of life in chronic pancreatitis, establishing its role as a valuable adjunct in long-term pain management.
A new study finds that stepwise pregabalin therapy delivers notable improvement in pain relief and quality of life (QoL) for patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), offering fresh promise in the long-standing challenge of pain management. The CP, marked by persistent abdominal pain and diminished daily function, remains difficult to treat despite available therapies. Hence, Randeep Rana et al. evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pregabalin as an adjunct approach to achieve sustained pain control in painful CP.
In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 55 patients with painful CP without active inflammation, pseudocyst, or major ductal blockage were treated with either gradually increasing doses of pregabalin or a placebo for 12 weeks. The study’s primary focus was to measure changes in the Izbicki pain score, reflecting overall pain relief. Secondary evaluations examined Qol [36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)], how pain affected daily routines [modified brief pain inventory-short form (mBPI-SF)], and patients’ own sense of improvement [patients’ global impression of change (PGIC)].
Safety and tolerability were carefully monitored through reported side effects, while quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used to explore whether pain sensitivity patterns could predict response to pregabalin therapy. The results showed that pregabalin markedly reduced pain scores, lessened interference with daily activities, and improved QoL when compared with placebo (Table 1).
Despite common mild side effects such as sleepiness (51.7%) and giddiness (58%), therapy was well-tolerated with minimal discontinuation (10.4%), and QST did not predict treatment response. In summary, gabapentinoids such as pregabalin serve effectively as adjunct therapy for CP, providing significant pain relief, improving daily functioning, boosting overall quality of life, and maintaining a favorable safety profile.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
Adjunctive Incremental Pregabalin Therapy Leads to Better Pain Relief in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Randeep Rana et al.
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