Pregabalin

Pregabalin (Lyrica) is an anticonvulsant drug used to treat partial seizures. Pregabalin is also commonly prescribed to treat neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Measuring the serum concentration of pregabalin is helpful in assessing compliance and monitoring patients with renal failure who generally require lower dosages.

Therapeutic concentration is 2 to 5 ug/mL when measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Toxicity may occur at serum concentrations greater than 10 ug/mL. Specimen requirement is a red top tube of blood.

References

Hiemke, C, et al: AGNP Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Psychiatry: Update 2011. Pharmacopsychiatry 2011;44:195-235.

Hiemke C, et al. Consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2017. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2018;51(1-2):9-62.