Pregabalin

Summary

Pregabalin is a medication primarily used to treat nerve pain. As an anticonvulsant drug, it can also be used in combination with other medications to treat seizures. It’s most important side effects are sedation and drowsiness.

Key Points

• Pregabalin (Lyrica)
  • Mechanism
    • GABA analog, nonopioid analgesic
      • Binds to calcium channels in the CNS to regulate neurotransmitter release
  • Clinical Use
    • Neuropathic pain
      • Fibromyalgia
      • Diabetic neuropathy
      • Postherpetic neuralgia
    • Seizures
      • Effective in treating partial seizures
  • Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
    • Sedation/Drowsiness
      • Avoid activities that require alertness (e.g. driving) until the effects of the medication are known
    • Dizziness
    • Weight gain
    • Dry mouth
    • Edema
    • Blurred vision
    • Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)