Pregabalin in the treatment of spasticity: A retrospective case series

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the therapeutic effects of the GABA analogue, pregabalin, on patients with conditions producing spasticity who had not responded to, or experienced problems with side-effects of the available anti-spasticity agents.

Method. A retrospective case series review of 22 patients who were prescribed open label Pregabalin as monotherapy for spasticity, starting with 75 mg bd and increasing to 300 mg bd. Twenty one of these patients had previously tried gabapentin, 19 had tried baclofen, 7 had tried tizanidine and 3 had tried dantrolene.

Results. Twelve patients perceived a definite reduction in symptoms of spasticity with pregabalin, and 9 continued to take it. Eight patients experienced significant side-effects which limited its use, 5 experienced no beneficial or adverse effects.

Conclusions. Pregabalin may be of value as a systemic agent in the treatment of spasticity, although properly controlled studies with clearly defined outcome measures are required to confirm this finding. This is relevant to the study of disability and rehabilitation because of the difficulties encountered in the management of spasticity and the impact that this can have on the rehabilitation of individuals with neurological conditions.

Keywords:

• Spasticity
• muscle relaxants
• pregabalin
• Gabapentin
• multiple sclerosis