How does pregabalin compare with alternative antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as an add-on for adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy?

Abstract

For adults with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy taking up to three AEDs, evidence that adding pregabalin to the AED regimen increases the number of people achieving seizure freedom at 17 weeks? follow‐up (on average, 88 vs 149 per 1000 people) is of very low certainty and is insufficient to support such a conclusion. Low‐certainty evidence suggests little to no impact on the absolute numbers of people experiencing a 50% or greater reduction in seizures or treatment withdrawal compared with an alternative add‐on treatment (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, or gabapentin). Results for adverse events were imprecise. No firm conclusions can be drawn.