Successful use of Rectal Pregabalin for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain—a Case Report

Abstract

Introduction A 65-year-old female patient could no longer take oral food or medications due to a duodenal occlusion associated with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Her pre-existing chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy had been well treated with pregabalin orally. Methods Since only preparations for oral use of pregabalin are available, pregabalin suppositories were compounded by the hospital pharmacy for rectal use in this patient. Results With the rectal administration, the treatment was successfully continued; we measured a good increase in serum levels and the symptoms improved significantly. Discussion Cancer patients often need to be treated with co-analgesics. At the end of life, treatment often cannot be continued due to lack of other than oral administration. Our case adds to the low evidence of pregabalin administered rectally.