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Pharmacopsychiatry 2012; 45(02): 51-56
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291176
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pregabalin: Dose-Response Relationship in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

M. J. Boschen
1   School of Psychology and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 06 June 2011
revised 24 July 2011

accepted 06 September 2011

Publication Date:
15 November 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction:

Pregabalin is a structural analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Although pregabalin has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in a number of randomized controlled trials, there is little published data on the optimal dose for treating this condition. The objective of the current study was to examine the dose-response relationship for treatment of GAD with pregabalin.

Method:

The current study pools results from previous fixed-dose treatment trials of GAD with pregabalin and uses curve-fitting statistical procedures to generate curvilinear regression lines as a synthesis of previous dose-response information.

Results:

Peak reduction in anxiety symptoms was observed to occur at a dose of approximately 450 mg/day, with a small reduction in treatment effect beyond this dose. Treatment effect on psychic anxiety symptoms reached a peak at approximately 400 mg, with a reduction in efficacy beyond this dose. Somatic anxiety symptoms showed continued increase in therapeutic effect up to the maximum dose of 600 mg/day.

Discussion:

Implications for psychiatric practice, limitations of the methodology and avenues for future research are discussed.

Key words

pregabalin - generalized anxiety disorder - anxiety disorder - anxiety - dose-response curve
 

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