Bennett, M.I., Laird, B., van Litsenburg, C., & Nimour, M. (2013). Pregabalin for the management of neuropathic pain in adults with cancer: A systematic review of the literature. Pain Medicine, 14, 1681–1688.

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 5 
• TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 762
• SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 1– 345 patients
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Tumor types and demographic variables not reported

PHASE OF CARE: Multiple phases of care
 
APPLICATIONS: Elder care   

The studies included one case report, two observational studies, one open-label study, and one double-blinded, four-group, randomized, controlled trial comparing pregabalin, gabapentin, amitriptyline, and a placebo. The most common side effects reported with pregabalin were dizziness, somnolence, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, nausea, ataxia, tremor, peripheral edema, weight gain, blurred vision, and constipation.

This review concluded that the current evidence for the efficacy of pregabalin for cancer-related neuropathic pain is too limited to draw any conclusions.

• Only included one randomized, controlled trial, and few studies were included in total

Pregabalin has been suggested as an approach for the management of chronic, neuropathic, cancer-related pain. However, there is very limited evidence to prove its efficacy.