A recent study assessed utilization patterns, the profile of diagnoses, and fixed-dose combination (FDC) with pregabalin in patients with various indications. It estimated the prevalence of pregabalin prescribing patterns among the patients attending the various outpatient departments (OPDs) at a hospital in South India. 

This study took 12 months to complete and included Patients who attended the various OPDs. The investigators collected prescriptions from the respective consulting departments and pharmacies. 

The study amalyzed 2490 patients prescriptions. It found female preponderance (54.22%) and the majority (45.74%) of the patients fell in the age group of 51–64 years. General medicine saw the highest (41.36%) patient visit. It also found Neuropathic pain to be the most prevalent disease condition among the various age group (57.67%) and predominant between 40 and 65 years (55.86%). 

The study found a total of 12,220 prescribed drugs, with the most frequently prescribed drugs as plain pregabalin 75 mg (53.37%), with female predominance and maximum prescription coming from the medicine department (40%). Among the FDC, it found pregabalin 75 mg with nortriptyline 10 mg as the highest prescribed drug by the orthopedic department (41%). Extended-release pregabalin 75 mg (13.04%) and low-dose pregabalin 50 mg (2.19%) were also found to be prescribed. 

This study found the prevalence of pregabalin prescription maximum to neuropathic pain followed by radicular pain, trigeminal neuralgia, claudication, and herpetic neuralgia. Plain pregabalin 75 mg was preferred over the extended-release of 75 mg by most of the departments. Among the various FDCs, pregabalin 75 mg with nortriptyline 10 mg and with methylcobalamin 750 mcg were mostly prescribed among the various departments.

National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2022;12(9): 1448-1453. DOI:10.5455/njppp.2022.12.07363202230072022