Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Preemptive analgesia is a proactive approach that entails administering an analgesic regimen before exposure to noxious stimuli, aiming to hinder the sensitization of the nervous system and mitigate the amplification of pain from subsequent stimuli. This study was crafted to assess and compare the effectiveness of Gabapentin and Pregabalin. The focus was on examining their impact on prolonging analgesia duration, diminishing the overall need for post-operative analgesics, and scrutinizing potential side effects and complications. Methods: This prospective randomized study encompassed 124 patients classified as ASA grade I or II, aged between 20 and 50 years, with a body weight ranging from 50 to 70 kg. The participants were slated for elective infra-umbilical surgeries under spinal anesthesia. The cohort was randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 62 individuals. Group G received a 1200 mg dose of Gabapentin, while Group P received a 300 mg dose of Pregabalin, administered one hour prior to spinal anesthesia.Pain levels were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale immediately in the postoperative period and subsequently every two hours. The time elapsed between spinal anesthesia and the initial analgesic dose (diclofenac) as well as the total analgesic doses administered within the first 24 hours were meticulously recorded for analysis. Results: Within Group G, participants necessitated rescue analgesia after an average of 12.00 ± 2.02 hours, while in Group P, this need arose later at 16.48 ± 4.48 hours. Additionally, in Group G, subsequent rescue analgesia was essential in only 6 cases, whereas in Group P, it was required in just 4 cases. Furthermore, the occurrence of somnolence and dizziness was less frequent with Pregabalin compared to Gabapentin. Conclusion: Administering a preoperative single oral dose of Pregabalin (300 mg) proves to be more effective in postoperative pain management and results in a reduction in the consumption of postoperative rescue analgesics when compared to a single dose of Gabapentin (1200 mg). Additionally, Pregabalin exhibits a favorable profile with fewer side effects in this context.