Pregabalin for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder

Abstract

Pregabalin is a new anxiolytic that has been recently licensed for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in Europe. Short-term efficacy is based on six positive placebo-controlled studies, all of which showed a significant early separation from placebo in all of the doses used (150-600 mg) at the first week, and the efficacy at the end of the treatment was comparable with the comparators used in four of these studies. Pregabalin was effective in more or less severe GAD, on psychic and somatic symptoms of GAD, and in treating the subsyndromal depressive symptoms of GAD. Efficacy in the elderly was shown in a separate placebo-controlled study. The effect on cognitive function was minimal and notably less than that observed with benzodiazepines. The discontinuation symptoms following abrupt treatment cessation were similar to the rates with serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors and lower than with benzodiazepines with no signals of tolerance or dependence.

Anti-anxiety efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga in general anxiety disorder: A multicomponent, yoga based, breath intervention program for patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder with or without comorbidities

“…venlafaxine, O-desmethyl-venlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, buspirone, hydroxyzine, and benzodiazepines, low-dose anti-psychotics, and pregabalin (Ballenger, 1991;Montgomery, 2006). Nevertheless, all pharmacological treatments for GAD can cause troublesome side effects, including nausea, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain for the antidepressants (Kennedy et al, 1999(Kennedy et al, , 2001, and anterograde memory impairment, sedation and the risk of dependence with benzodiazepines; therefore, they are not recommended for long-term use (Michelini et al, 1996).…”

Quetiapine as an adjunctive pharmacotherapy for the treatment of non-remitting generalized anxiety disorder: A flexible-dose, open-label pilot trial

“…Current pharmacological treatment options for GAD include antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), venlafaxine, buspirone, hydroxyzine, benzodiazepines (Ballenger et al, 2001) and pregabalin (Montgomery, 2006). However, the response to these treatments is highly variable, ranging from 40% to 70% (Baldwin & Nair, 2005;Gelenberg et al, 2000;Pollack et al, 2001;Rickels, Downing, Schweizer, & Hassman, 1993).…”

A review of the drug pregabalin

“…1 PGB is a new anxiolytic that has been licensed for the treatment of (i) GAD, (ii) central and peripheral neuropathic pain (iii) neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and PHN, (iv) partial onset seizures in (v) treating psychic and somatic symptoms of GAD and (vi) in subsyndromal depressive symptoms of GAD in Europe. 21 Studies have demonstrated that premedication with PGB is effective for the prevention of post-operative pain in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.…”