Managing Pregabalin Misuse in Clinical Practice: A Growing Concern in Pain, Palliative and Anaesthesia Care

Pregabalin is an essential pharmacological aid in pain and palliative care practice. Its use has significantly improved pain control, both for acute and chronic conditions, when helping to reduce the need for opioids. Despite these benefits, the misuse of pregabalin has become a serious issue. The reasons cited by patients for pregabalin use included reduced opioid cravings, sedation, euphoria, relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms and anxiety relief. Stringent steps should be taken to address the misuse of pregabalin while ensuring that it remains a useful therapeutic tool. To ensure that pregabalin remains effective for patients without exacerbating the substance misuse problem, it is important to enhance regulations, boost patient education and establish thorough prescribing and monitoring practices.