Due to the augmented risk of drug use, particularly benzodiazepines, treating sleep disorders in patients, undergoing Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT), remains a regular challenge for addiction therapists. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic drug that is used for managing insomnia and neuropathic pain. Evidence indicates that pregabalin may have a lower risk of dependency than benzodiazepines.

107 patients enrolled on a recent study and were randomized to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 75 mg of pregabalin while the control group received a placebo over 8 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Demographic Questionnaire were employed to collect data on the sleep quality of the MMT patients.

The pregabalin group showed substantial improvement in Sleep duration and sleep efficiency contrasting with the placebo group. However, the two groups did not show any significant differences in other scales of sleep quality.

This study utilized a low dose of pregabalin for managing sleep disturbances in patients being treated with methadone, however; it is recommended that future studies may employ higher doses of pregabalin (e.g., 150 and 300 mg) for improving the different components of sleep quality along with overall sleep quality.

Hojjat SK, Kaviyani F, Amini M. et al. The effect of Pregabalin on sleep quality of patients treated with methadone maintenance therapy: A double-blind randomized clinical trial, Journal of Substance Use, 2022;27(3):293-299. DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2021.1941345