Overview

If you have chronic face pain you might be prescribed pregabalin.

Pregabalin is a medicine that is used to treat epilepsy and anxiety. It is also used to treat nerve pain. Nerve pain can be caused by different illnesses including diabetes and shingles, or an injury.

Pregabalin blocks pain by interfering with pain messages travelling through the brain and down the spine.

Always follow the amount (dose) prescribed by your doctor, and read the leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Pregabalin is also called by the brand names Lyrica^®, Alzain, Lecaent and Rewisca^®.

Taking pregabalin

Pregbalin comes as capsules, tablets, or a liquid that you drink.

It's usually taken 2 times each day.

• Try to space your doses evenly through the day.
• You can take pregabalin with or without food.
• Swallow pregabalin capsules whole with a drink of water or juice. Do not chew them.

To prevent side effects, your doctor will prescribe a low dose to start with and then increase it over a few days.

When you find a dose that suits you, it will usually then stay the same. Not all patients need the maximum dose of 300mg 2 times a day.

It takes a few weeks for pregabalin to start working.

How much to take (dose)

Your doctor will tell you which dose to take and how to take it. 

Example schedule 

Always follow the advice given by your doctor, even if it's different from this example.

If you forget to take the medicine

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it's within 2 hours of the next dose, it's better to leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it might help to set an alarm to remind you. You can ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you to remember to take your medicine.

Side effects of pregabalin

Like all medicines, pregabalin can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

More information about the side effects of pregbalin can be found on the NHS website.

Common side effects

• headaches
• feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy
• diarrhoea
• mood changes
• feeling sick (nausea) and, rarely, being sick (vomiting)
• swollen hands, arms, legs and feet
• blurred vision
• difficulty getting an erection
• weight gain (pregabalin can make you feel hungry)
• memory problems

These side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and go away by themselves.

If the side effects bother you or don’t go away, keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor.

If you have diabetes, pregabalin can upset your blood sugar control. Monitor your blood sugar more often for the first few weeks of treatment with pregabalin, and adjust your diabetes treatment if you need to.

Talk to your doctor or diabetes nurse if you want more advice on what to do.

Serious side effects

Very few people taking pregabalin have serious side effects.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to pregabalin.

These are not all the side effects of pregabalin. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

Is pregabalin addictive?

There is a risk that you might become dependent on pregabalin. Withdrawal symptoms (nervousness, mood disturbances, flu-like symptoms) can happen if treatment is stopped suddenly. If you have been taking pregabalin for some time and want to stop, your hospital doctor or GP will recommend that you reduce your dose slowly to avoid the risk of these effects.

Do not stop taking pregbaline without talking to a doctor. 

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Speak to your doctor about taking pregabalin during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They can help you understand the benefits and risks and help you to choose the best treatment for you and your baby.

Tiny amounts of pregabalin can get into breast milk, but it's not clear if it harms the baby.

Your doctor will only prescribe pregbaline if the benefits of taking the medicine are greater than any risks.

More information about taking pregabalin during pregnancy or breastfeeding can be found on the NHS website.

Taking pregabalin with other medicines

There aren't usually any problems mixing pregabalin with other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are taking:

• strong painkillers such as morphine
• medicines that make you feel sleepy or dizzy, including any herbal or homeopathic remedies, as pregabalin can make these side effects worse

Pregabalin and alcohol

Drinking alcohol while taking pregabalin is generally not recommended. This is because it can increase the risk of drowsiness, make you lose your focus and might also affect your breathing. 

Repeat prescriptions

Pregabalin is a controlled medicine. This means there are strict rules on how it's prescribed and dispensed to make sure it's not given to the wrong person or misused.

Your GP will give you a repeat prescription for pregabalin, which you can take to your local pharmacy. Your prescription will probably need to be hand signed by a doctor. This can take longer than normal repeat prescriptions.

When you collect pregabalin, your pharmacist will ask for proof of identity such as your passport or driving licence. You'll also be asked to sign the back of your prescription, to confirm that you've received it.

Once your prescription has been written, you'll need to collect your medicine from a pharmacist within 28 days. If you do not, your prescription will become invalid, and you'll need to get a new one.

Please make sure you request your repeat prescription early so that you do not run out or risk missing any doses.