Comparative role of pregabalin and carbamazepine regarding efficacy in painful diabetic neuropathy

• Published in: Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences Vol. 30; no. 4; p. 1275
• Main Authors: Mahmood, Raana, Jawed, Itrat, Khan, M Irfan, Mahmood, Iffat, Tariq, Talat, Kamil, Arfa, Sayeed, Faiza Z, Sayeed, Bushra Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 01.07.2017
• Subjects: Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - therapeutic use; Carbamazepine; Carbamazepine - adverse effects; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Comparative analysis; Diabetic neuropathies; Diabetic Neuropathies - complications; Diabetic Neuropathies - drug therapy; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Medical Records; Middle Aged; Pain - complications; Pain - drug therapy; Pain Measurement - drug effects; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - complications; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - drug therapy; Pregabalin; Pregabalin - adverse effects; Pregabalin - therapeutic use; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - complications; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome; Pakistan
• ISSN: 1011-601X

Neuropathic pain is the most severe and resistant type of pain which has impact on quality of life and behaviour; it most commonly occurs at night causing disturbed sleep. Diabetes mellitus is a common cause of painful neuropathy. In this study, we are comparing the effectiveness of old treatment Carbamazepine with Pregabalin in painful diabetic neuropathy. The study was an open-label trial conducted in Diabetic Clinic of Medical Unit-III, Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Center, Karachi. The duration of the study was 90 days, from December 2010 to March 2011. The study has been approved from ethical committee of JPMC, Karachi with the reference NO.F.2-81/2010-GENL/195/JPMC. 60 established patients of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy from Diabetic Clinic of Medical Unit-III OPD were included in the 90-day study, irrespective of gender, with duration of diabetes more than 10 years. All subjects are placed into two groups. In group A, comprising of 30 patients (n=30), Pregabalin was administered and in group B, also comprising of 30 patients (n=30), Carbamazepine. The intensity of pain was compared on visual analog scale of McGill pain questionnaire. In group A (Pregabalin), the mean pain score fell from 6.17±0.14 to 3.50±0.15 from day 0 to day 90 (p-value=0.001) and the percentage of change also in visual analog scale of McGill pain questionnaire was -43.31%. In group B (Carbamazepine), the changes in pain score from initially 6.07±0.14 falling to 4.23±0.13 from day 0 to day 90 (p-value=0.001) and the percentage of change was -30.31%. Pregabalin was observed to be more potent. Both drugs were well tolerated by all participants that also completed the entire duration of the trial.