The effect of Pregabalin on morphine consumption, sleep, mood and ability to change position after colorectal cancer surgery

Introduction Pregabalin is a co-analgesia to improve the pain control after colorectal cancer surgeries. But, the effect of Pregabalin on the sleep and ability to change position of patients in postoperative period is less well known. This study aimed to assess the effect of Pregabalin on postoperative morphine consumption, and effect of pain on sleep, mood and ability to change position after colorectal cancer surgery. Methods This double-blind, randomized, controlled, single-center clinical trial was conducted in Imam Khomeini hospital, Tehran, Iran from June 2017 to June 2018. Seventy patients were included for colorectal cancer surgery randomly divided into two groups. Group A received two doses of 150 mg Pregabalin preoperatively and postoperatively and group B placebo was administered at the same scheme. The two groups had same analgesia and anesthesia regimens otherwise. The pain score by a numerical rating scale (NRS); disturbance in sleep, mood and daily activity scores based on a scoring system like the BPI questionnaires; and, nausea- vomiting, fatigue headache, and morphine consumption were assessed 48 hours post-operatively. Results Morphine consumption was lower in the Pregabalin group 24 h postoperatively (P=0.01). The two groups were similar in terms of sleep interference scores and side effects (P>0.05). But, Mood and actions interference scores in the Pregabalin group showed a significant improvement in 48 h postoperative (P<0.05) (Table 3). Conclusion The results showed that Pregabalin could reduce postoperative morphine consumption and improve mood and actions interference scores after colorectal cancer surgery. However, there was no difference between Pregabalin and placebo in postoperative pain management and sleep interference scores after colorectal cancer surgery.