Efficacy of Pregabalin for Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

June 23, 2026 updated by: Fang Luo, Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Efficacy and Safety of Pregabalin in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome : A Multi-center Prospective Randomized Open Blinded End-point Trial

To explore the efficacy of pregabalin for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The investigators aim to investigate the efficacy of pregabalin in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the etiology of IBS and the effective and rapid treatment for this etiology.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
258

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100050
        • Recruiting
        • Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age range: 18-70 years old;
  2. According to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for IBS, the screening result is positive;
  3. Mild to moderate IBS patients assessed based on the IBS-SSS.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Concurrent gastrointestinal conditions presenting with symptoms potentially overlapping with those of IBS, significant medical comorbidities;
  2. Severe mental disorders associated with marked personality disturbances, active suicidal thoughts or any self harm episodes within the preceding 12 months;
  3. Current or intended pregnancy or lactation;
  4. Cognitive impairment;
  5. Recent use of pregabalin (within 30 days) or known allergy to pregabalin;
  6. Concomitant use of medications that may interact with the study drug, mimic its effects, or aggravate expected adverse reactions (including but not limited to rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, opioids, anxiolytics, non opioid analgesics, mexiletine, dextromethorphan, and sedative hypnotics);
  7. Use of IBS specific agents such as alosetron;
  8. Consumption exceeding 50 units of alcohol weekly (where 1 unit corresponds to 10 mL of pure alcohol).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: The pregabalin group
75 mg twice daily for 3 days, followed by 150 mg twice daily for 3 days during the first week; 225 mg twice daily at week 10; and a tapering regimen at week 12 (150 mg twice daily for 3 days, then 75 mg twice daily for 3 days). Patients also received routine treatment from gastroenterologists. Patients also received routine treatment from gastroenterologists. Loperamide: 2-4 mg after each loose stool (max 16 mg/day) to reduce stool frequency, though it does not relieve pain. Rifaximin: 550 mg TID for 14 days (repeatable); or Eluxadoline 100 mg BID (75 mg BID in post-cholecystectomy patients), which is contraindicated in pancreatitis or biliary obstruction. Antispasmodics: Dicyclomine: 10-20 mg QID or Hyoscyamine as needed for cramping.
Drug: The pregabalin group
75 mg twice daily for 3 days, followed by 150 mg twice daily for 3 days during the first week; 225 mg twice daily at week 10; and a tapering regimen at week 12 (150 mg twice daily for 3 days, then 75 mg twice daily for 3 days).
Drug: Routine Treatment
Patients also received routine treatment from gastroenterologists. Loperamide: 2-4 mg after each loose stool (max 16 mg/day) to reduce stool frequency, though it does not relieve pain. Rifaximin: 550 mg TID for 14 days (repeatable); or Eluxadoline 100 mg BID (75 mg BID in post-cholecystectomy patients), which is contraindicated in pancreatitis or biliary obstruction. Antispasmodics: Dicyclomine: 10-20 mg QID or Hyoscyamine as needed for cramping.
Other: The control group
The control group only received routine treatment from gastroenterologists. Patients also received routine treatment from gastroenterologists. Loperamide: 2-4 mg after each loose stool (max 16 mg/day) to reduce stool frequency, though it does not relieve pain. Rifaximin: 550 mg TID for 14 days (repeatable); or Eluxadoline 100 mg BID (75 mg BID in post-cholecystectomy patients), which is contraindicated in pancreatitis or biliary obstruction. Antispasmodics: Dicyclomine: 10-20 mg QID or Hyoscyamine as needed for cramping.
Drug: Routine Treatment
Patients also received routine treatment from gastroenterologists. Loperamide: 2-4 mg after each loose stool (max 16 mg/day) to reduce stool frequency, though it does not relieve pain. Rifaximin: 550 mg TID for 14 days (repeatable); or Eluxadoline 100 mg BID (75 mg BID in post-cholecystectomy patients), which is contraindicated in pancreatitis or biliary obstruction. Antispasmodics: Dicyclomine: 10-20 mg QID or Hyoscyamine as needed for cramping.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and respnse rate
Time Frame: Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The primary outcome was assessed using the IBS-SSS and response rate, subgroup analyses were performed stratified by gender, age, and body mass index (BMI).
Up to 12 weeks after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The IBS Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire
Time Frame: Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The IBS Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, which consists of 8 subscales (dysphoria, activity interference, personal image, health concerns, food avoidance, social reaction, sexuality, social relationship), with a total of 34 questions. Each subscale score ranges from 0 to 100 points. A higher score indicates a better quality of life.
Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The Bristol Stool Form (BSF) scale
Time Frame: Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The Bristol Stool Form (BSF) scale at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, which is used to record the difference in proportions of the patient's daily bowel habits (hard stools, normal stools, and loose stools).
Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time Frame: Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, which consists of two sub-scales. Each sub-scale consists of 7 items and each item scored from 0 to 3. A higher score indicates more severe anxiety or depression. A score of 11 or above can indicate clinically significant anxiety or depression.
Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The Patient Health Questionnaire-12 Somatic Symptom (PHQ-12 SS) Score
Time Frame: Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The Patient Health Questionnaire-12 Somatic Symptom (PHQ-12 SS) Score at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, which includes 12 extra-GI symptoms such as back pain, limb pain, and headache. A higher score indicates more severe somatization symptoms.
Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The adverse events
Time Frame: Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The occurrence of the dizziness, somnolence, peripheral edema, dry mouth and weight gain
Up to 12 weeks after treatment
The time to first clinical response
Time Frame: The time to first clinical response after treatment, up to 12 weeks after treatment
The time to first clinical response
The time to first clinical response after treatment, up to 12 weeks after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Hebei Medical University Third Hospital
Hengshui People's Hospital
Beijing Jianjia Rehabilitation Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Fang Luo, Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 7, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 8, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KY2026-029-02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

This requires permission from the corresponding author

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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