Pregabalin May Alleviate IBS Pain
Although the neuropain inhibitor pregabalin (Lyrica) is frequently used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and bromyalgia, the results of a recent pilot study suggest that the drug could also be used to ease pain related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Although the neuropain inhibitor pregabalin (Lyrica) is frequently used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and bromyalgia, the results of a recent pilot study suggest that the drug could also be used to ease pain related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The study, conducted by researchers at Mayo Clinic, examined data on 85 patients with IBS, aged 18 to 70 years, who reported high levels of abdominal pain.
After a 12-week trial period, the researchers found that participants who were treated with pregabalin experienced a significant improvement in pain management compared with those who received a placebo. Pregabalin-treated patients also reported improvement in
other IBS symptoms, including bloating and diarrhea.
“There currently are limited treatment options available to ght the abdominal pain
associated with IBS,” said lead author Yuri Saito Loftus, MD, in a press release. “We theorized that pregabalin could potentially be helpful.”
Although Saito Loftus and her colleagues were encouraged by their findings, they acknowledged that few conclusions could be drawn due to the small size of the trial, and they noted that further research is needed to definitively establish the benefits of pregabalin in patients with IBS. The study results were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Las Vegas.
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