pregabalin oral solution (Lyrica)

following an abbreviated submission:

pregabalin oral solution (Lyrica®) is accepted for restricted use in NHS Scotland

Indication under review: for the treatment of peripheral and central neuropathic pain in adults, as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial seizures with or without secondary generalization and the treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults.

SMC restriction: pregabalin oral solution should be prescribed only for patients who find it difficult to or are unable to swallow tablets.

The following SMC restrictions to the use of pregabalin apply:

• Pregabalin is restricted to use in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain who have not achieved adequate pain relief from, or have not tolerated, conventional first and second line treatments for peripheral neuropathic pain. Treatment should be stopped if the patient has not shown sufficient benefit within 8 weeks of reaching the maximally tolerated therapeutic dose.
   
• Pregabalin is restricted to use as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation. It should be initiated only by physicians who have appropriate experience in the treatment of epilepsy and should be used principally in patients who have not benefited from treatment with an older anti-convulsant drug such as carbamazepine or sodium valproate, or for whom these drugs are unsuitable because of contra-indications, interaction or poor tolerance.

Pregabalin is not recommended for use in the treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder in adults as the company have not made a submission to SMC for use in this indication.

Pregabalin oral solution has been shown to be bioequivalent to pregabalin capsules.