The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7270 p488
11 October 2003

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European College of Neuropsychopharmacology congress (www.ecnp.nl)

New class of anxiolytics

The anxiolytic effect of pregabalin, a novel agent that also demonstrates efficacy for epilepsy and neuropathic pain, is apparent after one week according to a poster presented at the annual congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Prague.

In a four- to six-week trial, early improvement was found in 48 per cent of patients with generalised anxiety disorder given 200mg daily of pregabalin (n=78) compared with 29 per cent of patients given a placebo (n=414). Early improvement was defined as at least a 30 per cent improvement in Hamilton anxiety rating scale by week one. This indicates that pregabalin has an earlier onset of action than serotonergic anxiolytics and venlafaxine, say researchers. Pregabalin’s mechanism of action involves selective binding to the alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. The agent has no significant effects at gamma-aminobutyric acid type A or type B receptors or at benzodiazepine receptors. It appears to be well tolerated, with the most frequently reported adverse effects being somnolence and dizziness.

The Journal attended the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology congress courtesy of Eli Lilly