Methods: Pregabalin alleviates stimulus-evoked neuropathic pain (NeuP) in some pain patients and rodents in models of painful neuropathies. But it is not known if pregabalin can also alleviate spontaneous NeuP. Sciatic and saphenous neurectomy in rats elicits spontaneous self-mutilation of the denervated hindpaw, a behavior that models spontaneous NeuP. We tested if pregabalin (20 or 30 mg/kg/day; twice daily, per os) for 7 days before denervation, or 42 days thereafter, can suppress this behavior.

Results: Compared with the vehicle, pregabalin administered in both treatment regimens markedly and significantly delayed autotomy onset and suppressed its levels for weeks after treatment cessation.

Conclusions: At doses known to effectively suppress stimulus-evoked pain in rats, pregabalin can prevent development of spontaneous NeuP and suppress it postoperatively.