Pregabalin is used to treat epilepsy and anxiety.
It's also taken to treat nerve pain. Nerve pain can be caused by different conditions including diabetes and shingles, or an injury.
Pregabalin works in different ways:
in epilepsy it stops seizures by reducing the abnormal electrical activity in the brain
with nerve pain it blocks pain by affecting the pain messages travelling through the brain and down the spine
in anxiety it stops your brain from releasing the chemicals that make you feel anxious
Pregabalin is only available on prescription. It comes as capsules, tablets, or a liquid that you swallow.
2. Key facts
You'll usually take pregabalin 2 or 3 times a day. You can take it with or without food.
Pregabalin is often used for epilepsy, but you can also take it to help with pain or anxiety if you do not have epilepsy.
It takes at least a few weeks for pregabalin to work.
The side effects of pregabalin are usually mild and go away by themselves. The most common ones are feeling sleepy, dizziness and headaches.
If you have epilepsy it's important to take pregabalin regularly. Missing doses could trigger a seizure.
3. Who can and cannot take pregabalin
Pregabalin is only suitable for adults. It might not be suitable for people older than 65. Do not give it to children under 18.
Pregabalin is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
have ever had an allergic reaction to pregabalin or any other medicine
have ever abused or been addicted to a medicine
are trying to get pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding
are on a controlled sodium diet, or your kidneys do not work well – some brands of pregabalin liquid contain sodium, so speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking it
have any problems that affect your breathing
4. How and when to take pregabalin
Pregabalin is a prescription medicine. It's important to take it as instructed by your doctor.
Dosage
The usual dose of pregabalin is between 150mg and 600mg a day, split into 2 or 3 separate doses.
If you are taking pregabalin as a liquid, 2.5ml is usually the same as taking a single 50mg capsule. Always check the label.
How to take it
You can take pregabalin with or without food, but it's best to take it in the same way each day. Try to space your doses evenly through the day.
Swallow pregabalin tablets or capsules whole with a drink of water or juice. Do not chew them.
If you are taking pregabalin as a liquid, it will come with a syringe or spoon to measure your dose. If you do not have a measuring spoon or syringe, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.
How long to take it for
If you have epilepsy, it's likely that once your condition is under control you will continue to take pregabalin for many years.
If you're taking pregabalin for nerve pain or anxiety it's likely that once your symptoms have gone you will continue to take it for several months to stop them coming back.
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