Pregabalin
About Pregabalin
Pregabalin belongs to a group of medications called anticonvulsants, primarily used for the prevention of neuropathic pain, epilepsy (seizure episodes), and fibromyalgia (musculoskeletal pain).
Pregabalin contains pregabalin, which works by calming damaged or overactive nerves in the body that can cause nerve or musculoskeletal pain or seizures. In addition, it decreases the number of pain signals sent out by damaged nerves.
Take Pregabalin as prescribed by your doctor. Pregabalin may cause common side effects, such as dizziness, sleepiness, dry mouth, swelling, blurred vision, and weight gain. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention. However, if they persist or worsen, consult your doctor.
Before taking Pregabalin, inform your doctor if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Tell your doctor if you experience any symptoms of suicidal thoughts or behaviour while taking Pregabalin. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Uses of Pregabalin
• Neuropathic Pain Relief: Pregabalin is frequently recommended to treat nerve pain caused by conditions like postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, or spinal cord injury.
• Epilepsy management: It helps regulate seizure activity and can be used as an adjuvant therapy for people with partial seizures.
• Fibromyalgia Treatment: It could enhance general quality of life by reducing the pervasive pain and suffering brought on by fibromyalgia.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Pregabalin reduces excessive worry and relaxes the nervous system to treat anxiety problems.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): In order to help manage the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Pregabalin can be administered to relieve anxiety and related conditions.
Medicinal Benefits
For Neuropathic Pain:
- It helps relieve pain caused by damaged or overactive nerves.
- It reduces burning, tingling, and shooting pain sensations.
For Fibromyalgia:
- It eases widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness.
- It helps improve daily functioning and comfort.
For Epilepsy:
- It helps prevent and control seizure episodes.
- It calms excessive nerve activity in the brain to reduce fits.
Directions for Use
- Pregabalin can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor.
- Your doctor will determine the dosage and timing of this medication based on your medical condition.
- Swallow Pregabalin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
Storage
Side Effects of Pregabalin
- Dizziness
- Somnolence (sleepiness/drowsiness)
- Dry mouth
- Oedema (fluid overload with swelling)
- Blurred vision
- Weight gain
- Abnormal thinking (difficulty with concentration/attention)
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Pregabalin if you are known to be allergic to any of its ingredients.
- Do not stop taking Pregabalin without consulting your doctor, as this may cause withdrawal symptoms.
- Inform your doctor if you experience any symptoms of suicidal thoughts or behaviour while taking Pregabalin.
- Let your doctor know if you have a history of alcohol or drug addiction, mood disorders, bleeding disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or kidney, liver, or heart disease before starting Pregabalin.
- Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- It should not be given to children under 18 years of age, as its safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
- Pregabalin may cause decreased concentration, drowsiness, and dizziness, so avoid driving or operating machinery unless you are fully alert.
- Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Pregabalin, as it may worsen side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Inform your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines, as there may be an interaction:
- Painkillers (morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, tramadol, codeine)
- Medicines for treating anxiety (lorazepam, diazepam, clonazepam)
- Oral contraceptives (ethinyl oestradiol)
- Oral diabetes medications (rosiglitazone, pioglitazone)
- Blood pressure medications (captopril, lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril)
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Pregabalin, as it may increase side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Inform your doctor if you have alcohol or drug addiction, mood disorders, bleeding disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or kidney, liver, or heart disease before taking Pregabalin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consuming alcohol while taking Pregabalin, as it may worsen the side effects like dizziness and drowsiness.
Pregnancy
cautionPregabalin is a category C pregnancy drug. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant before starting Pregabalin. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Pregabalin.
Breast Feeding
cautionPregabalin should not be used during breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Pregabalin.
Driving
unsafePregabalin may cause decreased concentration, drowsiness, and dizziness; therefore, avoid driving or operating machinery unless you are fully alert.
Liver
cautionTake Pregabalin with caution, especially if you have or had a history of liver disease/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Pregabalin with caution, especially if you have or had a history of kidney disease/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafePregabalin is not recommended for children below the age of 18 years, as its safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Healthy Eating Habits:
- Maintain a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3-rich foods to support nerve health.
- Avoid fried foods, high-fat dairy products, pastries, and processed foods as they may worsen neuropathic pain.
- Include cayenne pepper in your diet, as it may help reduce neuropathic pain.
Physical Activity:
- Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight and improve overall physical well-being.
Monitoring & Safety:
- Have a seizure response plan so people around you know how to help during an episode.
- Make safety modifications at home to reduce the risk of injury during a seizure.
- Use an alarm or emergency device to quickly get assistance during a seizure attack.
Stress Management:
- Get adequate rest and sleep to help the body recover and manage symptoms better.
- Practice meditation or yoga to reduce stress, lower pain sensitivity, and improve coping skills.
Special Advise
- Do not take Pregabalin for a prolonged time, as it may lead to mental or physical dependence.
- Taking Pregabalin with opioid analgesics or painkillers like oxycodone can cause respiratory failure, coma, and even leading to death, so avoid their intake together.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Neuropathic pain (nerve pain): It is a chronic nerve pain condition usually caused by damaged or irritated nerves due to conditions like diabetes, shingles (viral infection with painful rash), spinal cord injury, or injuries to tissue/muscles/joints. Symptoms of nerve pain sensation are hot, burning, throbbing, shooting, stabbing, sharp, cramping, tingling, and numbness.
Fibromyalgia (musculoskeletal pain): It is a chronic condition that may cause pain, muscle stiffness and tenderness, tiredness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, mental distress, an impact on physical and social functioning, and overall quality of life.
Epilepsy (fits): It is a nervous system disorder with a sudden rush of electricity in the brain due to disturbed nerve cell (neuron) activity in the brain. Seizures are of two types, namely generalised and partial seizures. Generalised seizures affect the entire brain, whereas partial seizures affect only a part of the brain. Seizures can cause uncontrollable muscle twitches and spasms. Stronger seizures can make people confused or unconscious. Possible causes include high fever, trauma, genetic disorder, brain injury, or stroke.
FAQs
Pregabalin belongs to a group of medications called 'anticonvulsants', primarily used in the prevention of neuropathic pain, epilepsy (seizure episodes), and fibromyalgia (musculoskeletal pain)
Pregabalin contains Pregabalin, which works by calming the damaged or overactive nerves in the body that may cause nerve or musculoskeletal pain or seizures. Besides this, it also decreases the number of pain signals sent out by damaged nerves in the body.
Yes, Pregabalin may cause weight gain because it increases your hunger. However, regular physical exercise and a balanced diet with low-calorie food may help you keep your weight stable. Please consult your doctor if you have any further concerns about keeping your weight stable.
No, you are not recommended to take Pregabalin with tramadol, as co-administration of these medicines may cause breathing problems, drowsiness, and even lead to a state of coma. So, before using Pregabalin with painkillers like oxycodone or any other opioid analgesics, you are advised to contact your doctor so that the dosage may be adjusted accordingly to use safely.
No, Pregabalin is not a normal painkiller. It is an anticonvulsant that helps treat neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, and epilepsy (seizures).
Do not discontinue Pregabalin without consulting your doctor, as it might cause withdrawal symptoms. The doctor will reduce the dose gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Neuropathic pain occurs due to nerve damage while muscle pain occurs due to spasms or injury. Neuropathic pain is chronic and is felt as tingling and burning sensation. Whereas, muscle pain is a dull ache and will generally get better within a few days unless it is a severe injury.
Pregabalin works in different ways for each disease. For neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain, it calms the damaged or overactive nerves and decreases pain signals sent out by damaged nerves in the body. In case of epilepsy, it reduces abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Pregabalin starts working within a week and you may notice its full benefits in a few weeks. Continue taking Pregabalin for the prescribed duration for effective results.
Pregabalin should be taken for as long as it has been prescribed by the doctor. The doctor will determine the duration of the treatment based on your condition.
Pregabalin may be addictive. Therefore, take Pregabalin only for the prescribed duration. Do not take Pregabalin for a prolonged time as it may lead to mental or physical dependence.
Taking Pregabalin with diazepam may increase side effects such as dizziness, confusion, drowsiness and difficulty concentrating. Hence, consult the doctor before taking diazepam with Pregabalin.
Pregabalin may cause common side effects, such as dizziness, somnolence (sleepiness/drowsiness), dry mouth, oedema (fluid overload with swelling), blurred vision, weight gain, and abnormal thinking (difficulty with concentration/attention). Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
