ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of pregabalin and gabapentin in treatment of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.MethodsSixty patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain were allocated into pregabalin group(30 cases ) and gabapentin group (30 cases) for a 4-week period treatment by random digits table method.The efficacy was measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) score,while the side effects were evaluated.ResultsVAS score in both groups was significantly lower at the end of 1st,2nd or 4th week after treatment than that before treatment [pregabalin group:( 4.05 ±0.93),(2.73 ±0.72),(2.06 ±0.58) scores vs.(7.45 ±0.82) scores; gabapentin group:(5A2 ±0.88),(2.93 ± 0.80),(2.19 ± 0.64) scores vs.(7.68 ± 0.84) scores] (P ＜ 0.01 ).VAS score in pregabalin group was lower than that in gabapentin group at the end of 1st week significantly (P＜ 0.01 ).Not only there was no significant difference in VAS score at the end of 2nd or 4th week between two groups,but also in response rates at the end of 4th week (P ＞ 0.05 ).The rate of adverse reaction in pregabalin group was significantly lower than that in gabapentin group [16.67％ (5/30) vs.36.67％( 11/30)] ( P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionPregabalin is as effective as gabapentin in treatment of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain,but it has faster effect and less adverse events than gabapentin.