Once-Nightly Pregabalin for Co-Occurring Nightmares, Poor Sleep, and Headaches: A Case Series
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nightmares, nonrestorative sleep, and headaches co-occur, are common, underdiagnosed, and contribute to substantial disability. Pregabalin modulates excitatory neurotransmission, increases slow-wave sleep, and suppresses REM sleep, suggesting a potential therapeutic role in nightmares and sleep disturbance. Pregabalin's effect on nightmares has not been systematically studied. Although sedation is a common side effect when prescribed 2-3 times daily according to the package insert, the efficacy and tolerability of once-nightly administration remain poorly characterized.
METHODS: Our retrospective case series included 23 outpatients seen in the neurology department of a tertiary care center from November 2022 to August 2025. They were prescribed once-nightly pregabalin for nightmares, nonrestorative sleep, and headaches. Clinical data were extracted from medical records, including nightmare frequency, fraction of 24-hour periods with restorative sleep, headache frequency, severity, and duration, and MIDAS scores. Within-subject pre-post comparisons were performed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. All p-values were Holm-Bonferroni adjusted.
RESULTS: Nightmare frequency decreased 81% (17.5 to 3.3/month, padj=0.006). Nightmares decreased numerically more for those who transitioned from gabapentin to pregabalin (91%) than for those not initially taking gabapentin (73%). Restorative sleep frequency increased 127% (1.8 to 4.0/week, padj=0.006).…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 23 participants or records.
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