Risk of Pregabalin-Induced Hypoglycemia: Analysis of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database

Pregabalin is a first-line treatment option for neuropathic pain. Recently, some cases of pregabalin-induced hypoglycemia have been reported, which can complicate the treatment of neuropathic pain and worsen patient outcomes. Therefore, a better understanding of the clinical condition of patients with pregabalin-induced hypoglycemia is desirable. In this study, we evaluated the risk of hypoglycemia in patients administered pregabalin, using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database. All patients on pregabalin not taking any antidiabetic agents were screened from April 2004 to July 2020, and data on adverse events related to hypoglycemia, sex, age, weight, and the presence of chronic kidney disease were collected. Gabapentin and duloxetine, which are usually indicated for neuropathic pain, were used for comparison. Among 242 275 patients, 4287 were administered pregabalin, which included 37 patients who reported hypoglycemic incidents. Disproportionality of hypoglycemia was observed in patients administered pregabalin (reporting odds ratio, 2.25; 95%CI, 1.16-3.13; P < .01), whereas this was not the case in patients taking gabapentin and duloxetine. Multivariate logistic regression showed that hypoglycemia in patients on pregabalin was associated with age >= 70 years (odds ratio, 2.76; 95%CI, 1.29-5.91; P < 0.01) and weight <40 kg (odds ratio, 2.97; 95%CI, 1.32-6.71; P < 0.01). These findings suggest that pregabalin may be associated with a higher risk of hypoglycemia, especially in elderly individuals with low body weight. Health care providers may need to be aware of pregabalin-induced hypoglycemia in patients with these risk factors during therapy.