Stroke patients frequently encounter central post-stroke neuropathic pain. A recent study analyzed the rate of pain reduction in central post-stroke neuropathic pain with pregabalin therapy. 

It collected data prospectively on 36 patients with central post-stroke neuropathic pain, who received Pregabalin 75 mg/day and measured Pain levels using a visual analogue scale at the start of therapy, and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 of treatment. 

It then conducted a survival analysis to determine the rate of pain reduction (time vs. pain reduction >50%) using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the log-rank test. 

The results showed that Pregabalin could significantly reduce central post-stroke neuropathic pain in 69.7% of patients after 12 weeks of treatment. Pregabalin showed no significant difference in the rate of pain reduction between:

• men and women, 
• the age groups <55 years and >55 years,  
• the onset of pain <12 months and >12 months, 
• <2 episodes of disease and >2 episodes of disease,  
• <2 medications used and >2 medications used. 

Thus, Pregabalin can significantly reduce central post-stroke neuropathic pain in 69.7% of patients after 12 weeks of treatment, irrespective of gender, age, pain onset, history of diseases, or history of the medications.

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2021;13(1): 2805-2814.