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Gabapentin and pregabalin (Lyrica) are prescribed frequently for lumbosacral radicular pain, despite a lack of evidence that they are effective for this condition. In this randomized trial from Australia, researchers randomized 209 patients with sciatica to receive either pregabalin (titrated from 150 mg to 600 mg, depending on response and side effects) or placebo for as long as 8 weeks. At enrollment, duration of pain had been 1 week to 1 year (mean, 2 months); all patients had pain radiating below the knee and either dermatomal pain distribution, motor or sensory deficit, or diminished reflex. The primary outcome was leg pain at 8 weeks.
Improvement in the mean leg-pain score at 8 weeks actually was slightly greater in the placebo group t…