pregabalin (Oral route)
pre-GA-ba-lin
Commonly used brand name(s):
In the U.S.
- Lyrica
Available Dosage Forms:
- Capsule
Therapeutic Class: Neuropathic Pain Agent
Chemical Class: Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (class)
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Uses For pregabalin
Pregabalin is used to help control some types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. pregabalin cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it .
pregabalin is also used to manage a condition called post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after “shingles”). It is also used for pain caused by nerve damage associated with diabetes .
Pregabalin is also used to treat a condition called fibromyalgia (muscle pain and stiffness) .
Pregabalin is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before Using pregabalin
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pregabalin, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pregabalin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of pregabalin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of pregabalin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney disease, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving pregabalin .
Pregnancy
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
Breast Feeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pregabalin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Angioedema, history of—Pregabalin may increase the risk of this condition occurring again .
- Diabetes mellitus—May increase your weight and may increase your risk for skin ulcerations .
- Drug abuse or dependence, history of—May be more likely to develop dependence on pregabalin .
- Edema (fluid retention) or
- Heart rhythm problems or
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)—May make these conditions worse .
- Heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure)—Use with caution. May increase your chance of side effects .
- Kidney disease—Your doctor may lower your dose of pregabalin .
Proper Use of pregabalin
Pregabalin may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach .
Read the patient information leaflet prior to beginning pregabalin therapy .
Dosing
The dose of pregabalin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of pregabalin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (capsules):
- For diabetic nerve pain:
- Adults—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose up to a total of 300 mg per day, if needed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For epilepsy:
- Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) two times a day or 50 mg three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose up to a total of 600 mg per day, if needed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For fibromyalgia:
- Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose up to a total of 450 mg per day, if needed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For post-herpetic neuralgia:
- Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) two times a day or 50 mg three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose up to a total of 300 mg per day, if needed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For diabetic nerve pain:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of pregabalin, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Precautions While Using pregabalin
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, especially for the first few months you take pregabalin. This is necessary to allow dose adjustments and to reduce any unwanted effects .
Stop using pregabalin and call your doctor right away if you have swelling of the face, eyes, lips, gums, or tongue, or problems with swallowing or breathing. Also tell your doctor if you have hives or skin rash, redness, or blisters while you are using pregabalin. You may be having a severe allergic reaction or a condition called angioedema .
pregabalin will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; other medicines for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you are taking pregabalin .
Pregabalin may cause blurred vision, double vision, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, or trouble in thinking. Make sure you know how you react to pregabalin before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor .
pregabalin may cause you to keep extra fluid in your body or cause you to gain weight. If this side effect is bothersome, check with your doctor .
Do not suddenly stop taking your pregabalin. If you have been instructed to stop taking pregabalin, ask your healthcare professional how to slowly decrease the dose. This is to decrease the chance of having discontinuation symptoms such as dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, headache, vomiting, irritability, trouble sleeping, nightmares, prickling or tingling feelings .
Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness particularly if accompanied by a fever. For patients with diabetes, check with your doctor if you notice changes to your skin or skin sores while taking pregabalin .
Notify your doctor if you become pregnant, if you plan to become pregnant, or if you father a child while taking pregabalin .
pregabalin Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common- Difficult or labored breathing
- shortness of breath
- tightness in chest
- wheezing
- Blistering, peeling, loosening of skin
- chills
- cough
- difficulty swallowing
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- hives
- itching
- joint or muscle pain
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- red skin lesions, often with a purple center
- red, irritated eyes
- skin rash
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth or on lips
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common- Accidental injury
- bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- blurry vision
- burning, tingling, numbness or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
- change in walking and balance
- clumsiness
- confusion
- delusions
- dementia
- difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
- difficulty in speaking
- double vision
- dry mouth
- fever
- headache
- hoarseness
- increased appetite
- lack of coordination
- loss of memory
- lower back or side pain
- mood or mental changes
- painful or difficult urination
- problems with memory
- rapid weight gain
- seeing double
- sensation of pins and needles
- shakiness and unsteady walk
- sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
- stabbing pain
- swelling
- tingling of hands or feet
- trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
- unusual weight gain or loss
- Anxiety
- bloated, full feeling
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
- chest pain
- cold sweats
- coma
- cool, pale skin
- cough producing mucus
- decrease or change in vision
- depression
- eye disorder
- excess air or gas in stomach or intestines
- false or unusual sense of well-being
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- increased hunger
- joint pain
- loss of appetite
- loss of bladder control
- loss of strength or energy
- muscle aches and pains
- muscle twitching or jerking
- muscle weakness
- nausea
- nervousness
- nightmares
- noisy breathing
- pain
- passing gas
- rhythmic movement of muscles
- runny nose
- seizures
- shivering
- slurred speech
- sweating
- trouble sleeping
- twitching
- uncontrolled eye movements
- vomiting
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
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More pregabalin resources
Compare pregabalin with other medications for the treatment of:
Restless Legs Syndrome, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Pain, Diabetic Nerve Damage, Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Persisting Pain, Shingles, Migraine Prevention, Epilepsy, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
