Adding pregabalin to a multimodal analgesic regimen does not reduce pain scores following cosmetic surgery: a randomized trial
Journal of Anesthesia, 07/16/2012

Chaparro LE et al. – Perioperative pregabalin 75mg twice a day does not increase benefit when it is added to an already multimodal analgesic regimen for patients undergoing cosmetic surgery.

• One hundred and ten women who underwent same–day cosmetic surgery were randomized to receive oral pregabalin, 75mgq12h for five consecutive days starting the night before surgery, or identical placebos.
• Participants, outcomes assessors, and the statistician were blinded.
• The primary outcome was postoperative numerical movement–evoked pain scores at 2, 24, 48, 72, and 96h after surgery.
• The secondary outcomes included pain scores at rest; incidence of moderate to severe pain; and analgesic and antiemetic requirements; as well as the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and somnolence.

• Based on 99 patients who completed the study, the authors found no difference between the groups in the primary outcome; 72h after surgery, movement–evoked median pain scores were <4/10 in both groups.
• They found no differences in opioid requirements (p=0.95) or anti–inflammatory requirements (p=0.45), and no difference in opioid–related adverse events.