COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF GABAPENTIN AND PREGABALIN FOR NEUROPATHIC PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a challenging condition arising from damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, often necessitating targeted pharmacological treatment. Anticonvulsants like gabapentin and pregabalin are frequently recommended to treat it. Comparing the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of these drugs in 120 patients with neuropathic pain was the goal of this randomized controlled research. Over the course of 12 weeks, participants were randomly randomized to receive either pregabalin (150–600 mg/day) or gabapentin (600–1800 mg/day). Along with adverse events to gauge safety, functional progress, quality of life (QoL), and pain severity were measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Significant pain decrease from baseline was seen in both groups (p < 0.05). Pregabalin showed marginally better results in terms of VAS scores and increases in quality of life, especially in individuals with post-herpetic neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. However, compared to gabapentin, which had fewer side effects but needed larger dosages for equivalent efficacy, it was linked to more frequent moderate side effects such somnolence and dizziness. In conclusion, both medications work well to treat neuropathic pain; however, Pregabalin has somewhat greater effectiveness and improves quality of life, while Gabapentin could be more appropriate for people who are more susceptible to side effects. To validate these results and improve dosage techniques, more extended research is advised.