Neurol. praxi. 2010;11(4):271-278

Pregabalin in treating epilepsy and its accompanying symptoms

doc.MUDr.Vladimír Donáth, PhD.¹, MUDr.Ľubomír Lipovský, CSc.²

¹ II. neurologická klinika SZU, FNsP F. D. Roosevelta, Banská Bystrica

² I. neurologická klinika SZU, FN Bratislava

Pregabalin binds to the alpha2-delta subunit of the voltage-gated calcium channel. A reduction in calcium (Ca2+) influx into the nerve

terminals of up to 40 % is achieved by allosteric modulation. It results in reduced presynaptic release of neurotransmitters including

noradrenaline, substance P and glutamate. Thus, an antiepileptic, anxiolytic and analgesic effect is obtained. Based on this premise,

an open, prospective, post-marketing, interventional, multicentre trial was designed to investigate the adjuvant therapy for partial epilepsy

and the effect of accompanying symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, memory, cognitive functions and sleep. The safety profile

was also studied. During the follow-up of 256 patients with partial epilepsy, a statistically significant reduction in the rate of epileptic

seizures, reduced depression and anxiety as well as an improvement in sleep were noted. Adverse effects were similar to those in the

majority of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted in the past decade.

Keywords: pregabalan, epilepsy, quality of life, anxiety, depression, cognitive functions, EEG

Published: October 1, 2010  Show citation