Does Lyrica (pregabalin) make you sleepy?
Yes, Lyrica (pregabalin) can cause significant drowsiness (somnolence) and dizziness which may affect your ability to drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities. This may lead to an injury or fall, so use caution. In studies, 23% of adults experienced drowsiness and 30% had dizziness as a side effect.
Drowsiness and dizziness are some of the most common side effects of Lyrica. These can begin right away or shortly after you first start treatment and may be worse with higher doses. Ask your doctor when you can resume driving or other hazardous activities.
Avoid alcohol or other nervous system depressant medicines (for example: opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antihistamines) if you are taking Lyrica. Combining Lyrica with these substances can further worsen your drowsiness, thinking skills, reaction time and may dangerously impair your breathing.
Use of Lyrica with other nervous system depressants (especially opioids, but also benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antihistamines) in people with breathing problems or in the elderly may be life-threatening or deadly. Combining these agents may dangerously suppress your ability to breath (cause respiratory depression).
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you combine Lyrica with any medicine. Do not stop treatment without speaking to your healthcare provider first.
What is Lyrica?
Lyrica pronounced "LEER-i-kah" (generic name: pregabalin) is approved to treat certain nerve-related pain disorders in adults 18 years and older. It’s also used for a certain type of epilepsy in people one month and older.
These uses are:
- Fibromyalgia
- Nerve pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)
- Nerve pain from shingles (postherpetic neuralgia)
- Nerve pain from spinal cord injury
- Add-on therapy for partial-onset seizures (a type of epilepsy) in patients 1 month of age and older
Lyrica is a controlled substance but it is not a narcotic (an opioid medication like oxycodone or morphine). It is scheduled by the DEA as a C-V (Schedule 5) controlled substance. C-V controlled substances have a low potential for abuse, especially relative to the drugs in lower schedules, (I-IV) but may still be abused.
Some patients may experience euphoria, a feeling of pleasure or happiness, when taking Lyrica, and that is why it is a controlled substance. Some people may abuse this drug to achieve that feeling. Tell your doctor if you have abused prescription medicines, street drugs, or alcohol in the past.
You can learn more about Lyrica common and serious side effects here.
Does drowsiness go away with Lyrica?
Lyrica is a medicine typically used over the long-term to treat conditions such as nerve pain and seizures, so you may wonder, does drowsiness get better with Lyrica?
Drowsiness may be more common at the start of Lyrica treatment, and improve over time. However, in some people, drowsiness may continue throughout treatment and not get better.
Studies have shown that some people decide to stop treatment due to side effects with this medicine, which may include drowsiness. Feeling drowsy can affect your work, school, driving or overall quality of life.
Do not stop Lyrica treatment on your own. If you have drowsiness, dizziness or other side effects that do not clear up or becomes concerning to you, contact your doctor. They may be able to adjust the dose or select a different treatment to help decrease this side effect.
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How often does drowsiness occur with Lyrica?
Nervous system side effects occur commonly with Lyrica, but the frequency varies by the dose and condition being treated. To help manage any side effects from Lyrica, your doctor may slowly increase your dose over a few days or weeks when you are first starting treatment.
Nervous system side effects and rates reported in at least 5% of all patients in manufacturer’s clinical studies include:
- Dizziness: 8% to 43%
- Drowsiness: 4% to 35%
- Neuropathy (nerve pain, weakness, numbness): 2% to 9%
- Ataxia (impaired balance or coordination): 1% to 20%
- Abnormal gait (walk): 0% to 8%
- Confusion: 1% to 7%
- Trouble with thinking, impaired concentration: 0% to 9%
- Tremor: 3% to 11%
- Amnesia (memory troubles): 2% to 6%
- Speech disorder: 1% to 7%
- Incoordination: 1% to 6%
- Twitching: 0% to 5%
- Fatigue: 5% to 11%
- Headache: 10% to 14%
In general, you may be more likely to experience nervous system side effects, or they may be worse, with higher doses.
Keep in mind that clinical studies occur under widely variable conditions. The side effects you experience and how often they occur can vary from study-to-study and between people. If you have questions about any side effects or warnings with Lyrica, contact your healthcare provider.
This information does not include all the possible side effects that can occur with Lyrica. To review a more complete listing of Lyrica side effects, visit Lyrica Warnings and Side Effects (in more detail).
Does Lyrica cause dizziness?
Yes, Lyrica can cause dizziness and this is one its most common side effects. Dizziness has been reported in 30% of adult patients. In studies, dizziness and somnolence (extreme drowsiness or sleepiness) were the side effects that most commonly led people to drop out of the study (4% each).
If you experience drowsiness or dizziness that makes you want to stop your Lyrica treatment, contact your doctor first. Many of the side effects that occur with Lyrica get worse with higher doses and your doctor may be able to adjust your dose to help lessen any side effects.
Do not stop taking Lyrica unless directed by your doctor. If you and your doctor decide you should stop treatment, the dose is usually slowly discontinued (tapered) over at least a week, or longer, rather than abruptly stopped. This will help lower any side effects.
This is not all the information you need to know about Lyrica (pregabalin) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- Lyrica. [Prescribing informaiton]. DailyMeds. NIH. Accessed Aug 26, 2025 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=60185c88-ecfd-46f9-adb9-b97c6b00a553
- Cross AL, Viswanath O, Sherman AL. Pregabalin. [Updated 2024 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470341/
- Onakpoya IJ, Thomas ET, Lee JJ, et al. Benefits and harms of pregabalin in the management of neuropathic pain: a rapid review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMJ Open. 2019 Jan 21;9(1):e023600. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023600.
Read next
Does Lyrica (pregabalin) cause weight gain?
Weight gain is a common side effect associated with Lyrica treatment. In studies, 9% of Lyrica-treated patients and 2% of placebo-treated patients gained 7% or more compared to their weight at the beginning of the study. Lyrica is also linked with an increase in appetite and fluid retention. Continue reading
Can you stop Lyrica (pregabalin) cold turkey?
Only in certain circumstances should you should stop taking Lyrica or Lyrica CR (pregabalin) right away. You should stop taking this medicine if your doctor has told you to stop immediately; you are having a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction; you have developed angioedema (swelling and build-up of fluid under your skin, usually in the facial or gential area), or you have trouble breathing (for example: shortness of breath, wheezing). If any of these reactions do occur, stop taking the medicine and call your healthcare provider or emergency medical services (911) right away. Continue reading
Is Lyrica (pregabalin) a controlled substance / narcotic?
Lyrica (pregabalin) is a Schedule V (Schedule 5) controlled substance, the lowest schedule for abuse potential, as defined by the DEA. It is not a narcotic (opioid), but is used to treat various types of nerve pain (diabetic neuropathy, herpes zoster), as well as epilepsy, fibromyalgia and spinal cord injury. Continue reading
See also:
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