Analgesic efficacy and safety of peri-operative pregabalin following radical cystectomy: A dose grading study

Purpose
Adding novel drugs like pregabalin to analgesic regimens might reduce postoperative pain, total opioid consumption and side effects, this study compares multiple doses of pregabalin for postoperative analgesia following radical cystectomy.
Methods
This study is registered at at no.: NCT02724293. Sixty patients were randomized into 4 groups: Group I: control (placebo) group, Group II: received pregabalin 300 mg 2 h preoperatively, Group III: received pregabalin 300 mg 2 h preoperatively and 12 h thereafter, Group IV: received pregabalin 600 mg 2 h preoperatively. Postoperative pain, time to first request of analgesia, and total morphine consumption were recorded.
Results
VAS was significantly reduced in groups II, III, IV in comparison with group I immediately postoperative, and after 2 h (P < 0.05). Sedation score was significantly higher in groups II, III, IV compared to group I immediately postoperative (P < 0.05). First request of analgesia was significantly delayed in groups II, III, IV compared to control group (P = 0.000). Total analgesic consumption was significantly reduced in groups II, III, IV compared to group I (P = 0.000). Group IV showed a significantly higher incidence of dizziness compared to group I.
Conclusion
Peri-operative pregabalin at doses of 300 mg and 600 mg reduced postoperative opioid consumption and prolonged time to first request of analgesia in patients who underwent radical cystectomy, and a single preoperative dose of 600 mg is superior in analgesia to others, without serious side effects.