Pregabalin binds with high affinity to the alpha2-delta subunit protein of voltage-gated calcium channels and, thereby, reduces release of excitatory neurotransmitters. This 12-week randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study evaluated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin in patients with chronic postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Patients were randomised to placebo (n=65) or to one of two pregabalin regimens: a flexible schedule of 150, 300, 450, and 600 mg/day with weekly dose escalation based on patients' individual responses and tolerability (n=141) or a fixed schedule of 300 mg/day for 1 week followed by 600 mg/day for 11 weeks (n=132). Both flexible- and fixed-dose pregabalin significantly reduced endpoint mean pain score (primary outcome) versus placebo (P=0.002, P<0.001) and were significantly superior to placebo in improving pain-related sleep interference (P<0.001). The most common adverse events (AEs) for pregabalin-treated patients were dizziness, peripheral oedema, weight gain (not affecting diabetes control), and somnolence. These results are consistent with previous studies' demonstrating pregabalin's efficacy, tolerability, and safety for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain associated with DPN or PHN. Pregabalin dosing aimed at optimal balance of efficacy and tolerability provides significant pain relief and may reduce risks for AEs and therapy discontinuation.

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Patients treated with donepezil maintained or improved in cognition and overall dementia severity in contrast to placebo-treated patients who declined during the 6-month treatment period. The safety and tolerability profile was comparable with that reported in outpatient studies of donepezil. These findings also suggest that advanced age, comorbid illnesses, and high concomitant medication usage should not be barriers to donepezil treatment. Given the apparent improvement in behavior in the placebo group, and the high use of concomitant medications in both groups, the impact of donepezil on behavior in the nursing home setting is unresolved and merits further investigation. In summary, effects on cognition, overall dementia severity, and safety and tolerability findings are consistent with previous findings in outpatients and support the use of donepezil in patients with AD who reside in nursing homes.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin for the treatment of central neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods: Patients with chronic, below-level, neuropathic pain due to SCI were randomized to receive 150 to 600 mg/d pregabalin (n 5 108) or matching placebo (n 5 112) for 17 weeks. Pain was classified in relation to the neurologic level of injury, defined as the most caudal spinal cord segment with normal sensory and motor function, as above, at, or below level. The primary outcome measure was duration-adjusted average change in pain. Key secondary outcome measures included the change in mean pain score from baseline to end point, the percentage of patients with $30% reduction in mean pain score at end point, Patient Global Impression of Change scores at end point, and the change in mean pain-related sleep interference score from baseline to end point. Additional outcome measures included the Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results: Pregabalin treatment resulted in statistically significant improvements over placebo for all primary and key secondary outcome measures. Significant pain improvement was evident as early as week 1 and was sustained throughout the treatment period. Adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of pregabalin and were mostly mild to moderate in severity. Somnolence and dizziness were most frequently reported.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that pregabalin is effective and well tolerated in patients with neuropathic pain due to SCI. Chronic pain is present in approximately two-thirds of patients after spinal cord injury (SCI), with nearly one-third rating their pain as severe. 1 Chronic central neuropathic pain, which results from damage to the central sensory system itself, 2 occurs in approximately 40% of patients with SCI. 3 This pain is often severe and refractory to treatment, which includes anticonvulsants, antidepressants, analgesics, and antispasticity medications. [4][5][6][7] As a result, central neuropathic pain after SCI has a substantial impact on patient function, sleep, and overall quality of life. [8][9][10] Pregabalin (Lyrica; Pfizer Inc., New York, NY), an a 2 d ligand, is approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain in more than 100 countries, 11 including the treatment of central and peripheral neuropathic pain in the European Union, 12 peripheral neuropathic pain in Japan, 11 and peripheral neuropathic pain due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia in the United Classification of evidence: