Dose-response relationship analysis of pregabalin doses and their antinociceptive effects in hot-plate test in mice

The aim of this study was to determine the analgesic effects of pregabalin (a third-generation antiepileptic drug) using the acute thermal pain model (hot-plate test) in mice. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate a dose-response relationship between logarithms of pregabalin doses and their resultant maximum possible antinociceptive effects (MPAE) using the hot-plate test in mice. From the linear equation of the dose-response relationship, doses of pregabalin that increased antinociceptive effects by 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% were calculated and amounted to 9.33, 24.80, 65.93, and 175.26 mg/kg, respectively. In conclusion, pregabalin produces analgesic effects in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated using the hot-plate test in mice.