A randomized trial comparing the efficacy of oral preemptive pregabalin and gabapentin for postoperative analgesia

Background: Modern anesthesia practice utilizes preemptive analgesia for providing pain relief postoperatively using oral drugs such as pregabalin and gabapentin which are otherwise used for chronic pain management. We aimed to determine which among the two is more proficient. Materials and Methods: This randomized double-blinded control study was done among 72 subjects undergoing lower abdominal surgeries under the subarachnoid block and they were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 received a single dose of tablet pregabalin 150 mg orally, Group 2 received tablet gabapentin 600 mg orally, and Group 3 received placebo drug orally (tablet B-complex) 2 h before subarachnoid block. Pain scores, time of 1st rescue analgesic, total number of rescue analgesics, sedation score, and occurrence of side effects were also noted for 24 h. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 with Chi-square/Fisher's exact test or analysis of variance/Kruskal-Wallis test. A statistically significant difference was considered when P < 0.05. Results: Pain scores were lesser in Group 1 and 2 except at 2nd h. Total rescue analgesic time among maximum subjects in Group 1 was 4 h 30 min, in Group 2 was 3 h 30 min and 4 h, whereas in Group 3 was 3 h (P < 0.001). The total dose of analgesics in the first 24 h was 2 doses in Group 1, 2 doses in Group 2, and 3 doses in Group 3 (P < 0.001). Sedation score was more on Group 1 and 2 in comparison to Group 3 with no side effects in all groups. Conclusions: We conclude that pregabalin to be the effective preemptive drug because of its lesser pain intensity scores and good sedation property.