(L.A.) Annette Degrate, 64, Died at a Residence

Case Number: 2024-04092

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 64-year-old Black female that occurred at her residence.

The coroner’s office has identified the woman as Annette Degrate.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Pregabalin Toxicity

Other Significant Condition: Effects of Blunt Chest Trauma

RIP ANNETTE DEGRATE (December 13, 1959 – March 8, 2024)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday at 6:52 a.m.

Ruling by the deputy medical examiner was published on July 1, presumably after the results of tox screening had come back positive for the drug.

Pregabalin is medication used for relieving neuropathic pain.

SEPTEMBER 2018

A study in the Journal of Neurology finds that pregabalin is not effective in controlling the chronic pain that sometimes develops following traumatic nerve injury.

“The unrelenting burning or stabbing symptoms due to nerve trauma are a leading reason why people seek treatment for chronic pain after a fall, car accident, or surgery… While these finding show that pregabalin is not effective in controlling the long-term pain for traumatic injury, it may provide relief for patients experience post-surgical pain.”

Pregabalin, which is marketed by Pfizer under the name Lyrica, is approved to treat chronic pain associated with shingles, spinal cord injury, fibromyalgia, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However, it is also commonly prescribed as an “off label” treatment for chronic nerve injury syndromes that occur after motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, knee or hip replacement and surgeries such as hernia repair or mastectomy.

urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/common-painkiller-not-effective-for-traumatic-nerve-injury