Efficacy and safety of pregabalin in the management of low back pain: a comprehensive meta-analysis.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent chronic pain conditions that affects nearly 50% of the population. Its complex pathophysiology may involve both nociceptive and neuropathic mechanisms and is often resistant to standard treatment. Pregabalin has emerged as a potential alternative owing to its mechanism of action, the inhibition of excitatory neurotransmitter release. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin in managing LBP. Methods: A systematic review of three major databases was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they were comparative studies of pregabalin with placebo or other pain medications, focusing on adult patients with LBP. Data were extracted on efficacy outcomes including pain reduction, anxiety, depression, quality of life, quality of sleep, disability, and adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.1. Results: A total of 18 studies ( Conclusion: Pregabalin in the treatment of neuropathic LBP demonstrated significant improvements in pain relief, associated symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhancements in quality of life and sleep quality. In addition, it exhibits a favorable safety profile. Nevertheless, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited quality of the evidence and the inadequate reporting of pain etiology in several included studies.