COMPARISON OF PREGABALIN AND NORTRIPTYLINE ON SLEEP, QUALITY OF LIFE IN POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMISED, OPEN-LABEL, PARALLEL STUDY

Objective: Aim of the present study was to compare the effects of pregabalin and nortriptyline on sleep and quality of life in patients of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: The present study was conducted in 48 patients of PHN attending the outpatient department (OPD) of Dermatology, Government Medical College Jammu. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria patients were randomized into two treatment groups. One group received pregabalin 150 mg/day and the other group was treated with nortriptyline 25 mg/day. The patients were followed up to eight weeks and assessed for Sleep (Medical Outcomes Study sleep scale) and quality of life (Euro QOL-5D-5L score). Clinicians Global Impression of Change (CGIC) score and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) score were used to evaluate overall clinical improvement. Results: Both drugs significantly improved all parameters studied (p<0.0001). On comparison, both drugs had similar effects on sleep and quality of life. However, pregabalin was found to be better than nortriptyline at eight weeks on CGIC (p<0.004) and PGIC (p<0.0003) scores. Conclusion: Both pregabalin and nortriptyline were equally effective in improving sleep and quality of life. Overall clinical improvement was better with pregabalin than nortriptyline at eight weeks