Pregabalin

Hi there, today i saw my doctor and he gave me Pregabalin, I see that it is used in treating this condition. What does it do to the brain can someone tell me, he told me to take two a day so Im going to do that. Naomi

Hi Naombi

this site gives a pretty good overview of pregabilim, note that the drug is used as a painkiller in neuropathic pain also:

www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100005038.html

Lyrica (pregabalin)
Main Use Active Ingredient Manufacturer
Epilepsy Pregabalin. Pfizer

How does it work?

Lyrica capsules contain the active ingredient pregabalin, which is a medicine that is mainly used to treat epilepsy. It works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain.

The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals are released in the brain, the brain becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This can result in seizures or fits.

Pregabalin prevents epileptic fits by preventing the excessive electrical activity in the brain. It does this by mimicking the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA.

Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that are stored in nerve cells. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance. Pregabalin is structurally similar to GABA and so is thought to mimick its action. This helps calm the nerve activity in the brain.

Pregabalin is used as an add-on treatment for adults whose epilepsy has not been well controlled by other anti-epileptic medicines. It is used to prevent partial seizures, and partial seizures that spread to secondary generalised seizures.

As pregabalin stabilises electrical nerve activity, it can also be used to treat pain that occurs a result of damage to or a disturbance in the function of nerves (neuropathic pain). It can be used for peripheral neuropathic pain, ie nerve pain in the hands, legs or feet, or central neuropathic pain, eg as a result of a spinal cord injury.

Pregabalin can also used to treat generalised anxiety disorder.

What is it used for?

Epilepsy - used as an add-on therapy for adults with partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation.

Nerve pain (peripheral and central neuropathic pain) in adults, for example due to diabetic neuropathy, following shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia) or due to spinal cord injury.

Generalised anxiety disorder in adults.

Warning!

This medicine might make you feel dizzy or sleepy and so may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol.

You should not stop taking this medicine suddenly unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as this may result in your seizures, nerve pain or anxiety returning or getting worse. If it is decided that you should stop taking this medicine, the dose should usually be reduced gradually over at least a week. Follow the instructions given by your doctor.

Some people have experienced withdrawal symptoms after stopping treatment (long-term or short-term) with this medicine. These have included insomnia, headache, nausea, diarrhoea, flu syndrome, nervousness, depression, pain, sweating and dizziness.

Use with caution in

Elderly people.

Decreased kidney function.

Severe heart failure.

Diabetes (people with diabetes who gain weight during treatment may need an alteration in their dose of blood sugar lowering medicine).

Not to be used in

Breastfeeding.

Rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption (Lyrica capsules contain lactose).

This medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, because the manufacturer has not studied its safety and efficacy in this age group.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used during pregnancy unless your doctor considers that the benefits to the mother clearly outweigh any potential risks to the developing foetus. Women who could get pregnant should use an effective method of contraception to avoid pregnancy while taking this medicine. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. For this reason, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Warning. May cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinary.

Do not stop taking this medicine except on your doctor's advice.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Dizziness.

Sleepiness, fatigue.

Increased appetite and weight gain.

Confusion.

Mood changes such as elevated or depressed mood, irritability.

Memory impairment.

Attention disturbance.

Sexual problems such as decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (impotence), inability to orgasm.

Changes in sensation such as pins and needles (paraesthesia) or numbness (hypoaesthesia).

Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia).

Tremor, abnormal coordination.

Visual disturbances such as blurred vision, double vision, difficulty seeing fine detail.

Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling (oedema).

Disturbances of the gut such as constipation, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal swelling, acid reflux, increased salivation.

Dry mouth, nose or eyes.

Restlessness.

Abnormal dreams, hallucinations.

Increased heart rate.

Hot flushes, sweating.

Shortness of breath.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

You should tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

It is recommended that people who are taking any antiepileptic medicines should avoid taking the herbal remedy St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). This is because St John's wort may affect the level of antiepileptic medicines in the blood and could increase the risk of seizures.

This medicine is not known to interact significantly with other medicines. However, if it makes you feel sleepy or dizzy, this effect is likely to be increased if you take it in combination with other medicines that can cause drowsiness, for example:

benzodiazepines such as lorazepam

strong opioid painkillers such as oxycodone

muscle relaxants, eg baclofen.

This medicine does not affect hormonal contraceptives such as the pill.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain pregabalin as the active ingredient.


Last updated 18.01.2008

Hi Suzan

thanks very much, loads to take in there, im thinking of up-ing my dosage, im on 100mgs a day, and i dont really notice any differnt as yet, im on them a few weeks now, perhaps i should give them another few weeks before I try a higher dosage.

Thanks,

Naomi.xx