2.3 Search strategy
Potential studies were identified by searching electronic databases of
MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
Trials (CENTRAL), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts,
ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Worth Health Organization International
Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) from database inception to
23rd February 2022. Terms such as “pregabalin”,
“gabapentin”, “gabapentinoid” and ”cease”, “taper”, “reduce” and
“deprescribe” were used to identify potentially eligible studies.
There were no language or publication date restrictions. The full search
strategy is outlined in Appendix 2. We then conducted manual screening,
searched the reference lists of included studies, as well as backward
and forward citation tracking of the included studies using PubMed and
Scopus. We also communicated with content experts to identify any
missing studies.