Abstract:
Pregabalin, although very effective as an antiepileptic, anticonvulsant and neuropathic
analgesic, can lead to dependence and acute intoxications in cases of abuse or misuse, with a risk
of death.
This seven- year (2017-2023) retrospective observational study in Ouargla located in
southeastern Algeria, examined cases of pregabalin intoxication admitted to the Poison Control
Center. During this period, 152 cases of pregabalin intoxication were recorded, representing
10.8% of total acute intoxications. The incidence of pregabalin intoxication significantly
increased from 0.8% in 2017 to 25.5% in 2023. The majority of intoxications were due to
abusive use for substance abuse purposes (57.2%), followed by overdoses (34.2%), suicide
attempts (5.3%), therapeutic errors (2.6%), and accidental intoxications in infants (0.7%). Men,
with an average age of 24 years, constituted 90.13% of the cases. After medical treatment, 96.8%
of patients recovered without sequelae, while the mortality rate was 3.3%.
The sharp increase in intoxication cases over the years highlights the need to strengthen
surveillance, awareness, and intervention strategies to reduce the risks associated with the
inappropriate use of this medication.
