Contribution à L’étude Toxicologique Et Analytique De La Prégabaline

Abstract

Pregabalin is a drug widely used in the treatment of certain forms of epilepsy, neuropathic pain and generalised anxiety disorder. However, the rise in cases of poisoning involving this substance represents an emerging public health problem in Algeria. Objectives: This study aims to assess the prevalence and characterise the epidemiological and clinical profiles of suspected cases of pregabalin poisoning. Materials and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted from 1 June 2025 to 8 April 2026 at the toxicology laboratory of the Sétif University Hospital. Seventy-one patients suspected of pregabalin poisoning, for whom a qualitative analysis of pregabalin was performed, were included. The anonymised data were analysed using SPSS software. Results: The positivity rate for pregabalin was 46.5% (n=33). Patients testing positive were significantly more likely to have been admitted for substance abuse (63.6% vs 26.3%, p=0.003) and were more frequently found to have a history of substance abuse (81.5% vs 37.0%, p=0.002). Pregabalin was consistently associated with poly-substance use (72.7% of those testing positive, p<0.001), mainly with benzodiazepines (50%, p=0.016), cannabis (46.2%, p=0.034) and cocaine (33.3%, p=0.001). Loss of consciousness was significantly more common among positive patients (51.6% vs 27.3%, p=0.036). Conclusion: Pregabalin is increasingly implicated in cases of toxic exposure (recreational misuse, overdose or accidental ingestion), which can lead to acute poisoning, particularly when combined with other substances. This necessitates a strengthening of prevention measures and controls on its dispensing