Chronic neuropathic pain because of a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system is a common debilitating condition in clinical practice which is often managed with Pregabalin and Amitriptyline. 

A recent study thus investigated the safety of Pregabalin and Amitriptyline in chronic neuropathic pain. 

The study included newly diagnosed patients with neuropathic pain who have prescribed either Pregabalin or Amitriptyline and followed them telephonically or during routine visits for a period of 3 months after initiation of any of these drugs. The obtained data were statistically analyzed. 

A total of 317 patients were included in the study and 276 Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) were observed (128 with Pregabalin and 148 with Amitriptyline); with Central nervous system symptoms like sedation and dizziness as the commonest ADRs in both the groups. Diabetes mellitus (47.1%) was found to be the commonest etiology for neuropathic pain. Causality assessment revealed a possible association with Amitriptyline and Pregabalin. Most of the ADRs were moderate in severity with Amitriptyline(49.32%) whereas mild with Pregabalin (59.7%). 

The number of ADRs occurrence and total drug exposure in patients taking Pregabalin showed a weak positive correlation whereas Amitriptyline treated group showed a weak negative correlation. 

Thus, Pregabalin has a better Safety profile than Amitriptyline as per this study. 

Shukla S et al. Painful neuropathy: comparative observational analysis of safety profile of pregabalin and amitriptyline. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Jul;10(7):824-829 http://www.ijbcp.com