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Pregabalin is used to help control some types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. This medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it.
This medicine is also used to manage a condition called post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after “shingles”). It is also used for pain caused by nerve damage associated with diabetes.
Pregabalin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
Oral
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pregabalin, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pregabalin. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Pregabalin has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pregnant animals have shown that pregabalin may cause unwanted effects in offspring when given to the mother in doses larger than the largest human dose. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether pregabalin passes into breast milk. However, pregabalin is not recommended during breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.
Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of pregabalin in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults—This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, elderly patients are more likely to be more sensitive to pregabalin than younger adults and may require a lower dose.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking pregabalin, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:
- Antidiabetic drugs (e.g., Thiazolidinedione [ciglitazone])—May cause weight gain and/or fluid retention, and may increase your risk of serious side effects
Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pregabalin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Diabetes mellitus—May increase your weight and may increase your risk for skin ulcerations
- Heart disease—May increase your chance of side effects
- Kidney disease—Your doctor may lower your dose of pregabalin
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor, to help your condition as much as possible. Do not take more or less of it, and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered.
Pregabalin may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.
Read the patient information leaflet prior to beginning pregabalin therapy
Dosing—
The dose of pregabalin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of pregabalin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of capsules that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking pregabalin.
- For oral dosage form (capsules):
- For diabetic nerve pain:
- Adults—Oral, 150 milligrams per day, divided (50 mg three times a day).
- Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For epilepsy:
- Adults—Oral, 150 to 600 milligrams per day. The total daily dose should be divided and given two or three times a day.
- Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For post-herpetic neuralgia:
- Adults—Oral, 150 to 300 milligrams per day. The total daily dose should be divided and given two or three times a day.
- Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose—
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, especially for the first few months you take pregabalin. This is necessary to allow dose adjustments and to reduce any unwanted effects.
This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; other medicines for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you are taking pregabalin .
Pregabalin may cause blurred vision, double vision, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, or trouble in thinking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause you to keep extra fluid in your body or cause you to gain weight. If this side effect is bothersome, check with your doctor.
Do not suddenly stop taking your pregabalin. If you have been instructed to stop taking pregabalin, ask your healthcare professional how to slowly decrease the dose. This is to decrease the chance of having discontinuation symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, irritability, nightmares, prickling or tingling feelings.
Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness particularly if accompanied by a fever.
For patients with diabetes, check with your doctor if you notice changes to your skin or skin sores while taking pregabalin.
Notify your doctor if you become pregnant, if you plan to become pregnant, or if you father a child while taking pregabalin.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
- Less common
- Difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath; tightness in chest; wheezing
- Rare
- Blistering, peeling, loosening of skin; chills; cough; difficulty swallowing; diarrhea; dizziness ; fast heartbeat; hives ; itching; joint or muscle pain; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; red irritated eyes ; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; skin rash; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth or on lips; unusual tiredness or weakness
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.
- More Common
- Accidental injury; bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet; blurry vision; burning, tingling, numbness or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs; change in walking and balance; clumsiness; confusion ; delusions; dementia; difficulty having a bowel movement (stool); difficulty in speaking; double vision; dry mouth; fever; headache; hoarseness; increased appetite; lack of coordination; loss of memory; lower back or side pain; mood or mental changes; painful or difficult urination; problems with memory; rapid weight gain; seeing double; shakiness and unsteady walk; sensation of pins and needles; sleepiness or unusual drowsiness; stabbing pain; swelling; tingling of hands or feet; trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination; trembling or shaking of hands or feet; shakiness in legs, arms, hands, feet ; unusual weight gain or loss
- Less common
- Anxiety; bloated full feeling; burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles" , or tingling feelings; changes in vision; chest pain; cold sweats; coma; cool pale skin; cough producing mucus; decrease or change in vision ; depression; eye disorder ; excess air or gas in stomach or intestines; false or unusual sense of well-being; general feeling of discomfort or illness; increased hunger; joint pain; loss of appetite; loss of bladder control; loss of strength or energy; muscle aches and pains; muscle weakness; muscle twitching or jerking; nausea; nervousness; nightmares; noisy breathing; pain; passing gas; rhythmic movement of muscles ; runny nose; seizures; shivering; slurred speech; sweating; trouble sleeping; twitching; uncontrolled eye movements ; vomiting
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. | |
