Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26767525›Full record

SynthesisCNS drugs2016

Abuse Potential of Pregabalin: A Systematic Review.

Ole Schjerning, Mary Rosenzweig, Anton Pottegård, Per Damkier, Jimmi Nielsen

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in CNS drugs, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 65 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
65citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
9.5field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

65 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 149 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pregabalin for neuropathic pain in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019
    Pooled it
  7. Trial
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Patterns of pregabalin misuse: Need for intervention.The Indian journal of medical research · 2026
    Article
  12. Observational
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Observational

5 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Ole SchjerningDepartment of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. o.schjerning@rn.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1764-0912
Mary RosenzweigDanish Health and Medicines Authority, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anton PottegårdClinical Pharmacology, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Per DamkierClinical Pharmacology, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Jimmi NielsenDepartment of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Aalborg University Hospital · DKUniversity of Southern Denmark · DKNational Board of Health · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeveral case reports and epidemiological studies have raised concern about the abuse potential of pregabalin, the use of which has increased substantially over the last decade. Pregabalin is, in some cases, used for recreational purposes and it has incurred attention among drug abusers for causing euphoric and dissociative effects when taken in doses exceeding normal therapeutic dosages or used by alternative routes of administration, such as nasal insufflation or venous injection. The magnitude of the abuse potential and the mechanism behind it are not fully known.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to present a systematic review of the data concerning the abuse potential of pregabalin.

methodsWe performed a systematic literature search and reviewed the preclinical, clinical and epidemiological data on the abuse potential of pregabalin.

resultsWe included preclinical (n = 17), clinical (n = 19) and epidemiological (n = 13) studies addressing the abuse potential of pregabalin. We also reviewed case reports (n = 9) concerning abuse of pregabalin. The preclinical studies indicated that pregabalin possesses modulatory effects on the GABA and glutamate systems, leaving room for an abuse potential. Further, clinical studies reported euphoria as a frequent side effect in patients treated with pregabalin. The majority of case reports concerning abuse of pregabalin involved patients with a history of substance abuse and, similarly, epidemiological studies found evidence of abuse, especially among opiate abusers.

conclusionsOverall, the available literature suggests an important clinical abuse potential of pregabalin and prescribers should pay attention to signs of abuse, especially in patients with a history of substance abuse.

Indexed as

Prescription Drug MisuseSubstance-Related DisordersAnimalsClinical Trials as TopicDrug Evaluation, PreclinicalEuphoriaHumansIllicit DrugsPregabalinIllicit DrugsPregabalin

Identifiers

PMID26767525
OpenAlexW2235924983

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.