Pregabalin

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (pre gab' a lin)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Pregabalin is used to relieve neuropathic pain (pain from damaged nerves) that can occur in your arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, or toes if you have diabetes or in the area of your rash if you have had shingles (a painful rash that occurs after infection with herpes zoster). It is also used to treat fibromyalgia (a long-lasting condition that may cause pain, muscle stiffness and tenderness, tiredness, and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Pregabalin is used with other medications to treat certain types of seizures in people with epilepsy. Pregabalin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing the number of pain signals that are sent out by damaged nerves in the body.


How should this medicine be used?

Pregabalin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food two or three times a day. Take pregabalin at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of pregabalin and may gradually increase your dose during the first week of treatment.

Take pregabalin exactly as directed. Pregabalin may be habit forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.

Pregabalin may help control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. It may take several weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of pregabalin. Continue to take pregabalin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pregabalin without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood. If you suddenly stop taking pregabalin, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, including trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, or seizures. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually over at least one week.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with pregabalin and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs) or the manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking pregabalin,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to pregabalin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in pregabalin capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril (Capoten, in Capozide), enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic, Lexxel), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, in Prinzide, Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic, Quinaretic), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka); antidepressants; antihistamines; medications for anxiety, including lorazepam (Ativan); medications for mental illness or seizures; certain medications for diabetes such as pioglitazone (Actos, in Duetact) and rosiglitazone (Avandia, in Avandaryl, Avandamet); narcotic pain medications, including oxycodone (OxyContin, in Percocet, others); sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems with your vision, bleeding problems or a low number of platelets (type of blood cell needed for blood clotting) in your blood, or heart or kidney disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or if you or your partner plans to become pregnant. Also tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. If you or your partner becomes pregnant while you are taking pregabalin, call your doctor. Pregabalin has caused decreased fertility in male animals and birth defects in the offspring of male and female animals who were treated with the medication. There is not enough information to tell if pregabalin causes these problems in humans.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking pregabalin.
  • you should know that pregabalin may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive a car operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how this medication affects you. Ask your doctor when you may do these activities.
  • do not drink alcohol while taking pregabalin. Alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
  • you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while you are taking pregabalin for the treatment of epilepsy, mental illness, or other conditions. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took anticonvulsants such as pregabalin to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as one week after they started taking the medication. There is a risk that you may experience changes in your mental health if you take an anticonvulsant medication such as pregabalin, but there may also be a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if your condition is not treated. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of taking an anticonvulsant medication are greater than the risks of not taking the medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood); talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life; withdrawing from friends and family; preoccupation with death and dying; giving away prized possessions; or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Pregabalin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • tiredness
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • dry mouth
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • constipation
  • gas
  • bloating
  • ''high'' or elevated mood
  • speech problems
  • difficulty concentrating or paying attention
  • confusion
  • difficulty remembering or forgetfulness
  • anxiety
  • lack of coordination
  • loss of balance or unsteadiness
  • uncontrollable shaking or jerking of a part of the body
  • muscle twitching
  • weakness
  • increased appetite
  • weight gain
  • swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • back pain
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
  • blurred vision, double vision, or other changes in eyesight
  • hives
  • rash
  • itching
  • blisters
  • swelling of the eyes face, throat, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, head or neck
  • shortness of breath
  • wheezing
  • muscle pain, tenderness, soreness, or weakness, especially if it comes along with fever
  • chest pain

If you have diabetes, you should know that pregabalin has caused skin sores in animals. Pay extra attention to your skin while taking pregabalin, and tell your doctor if you have any sores, redness, or skin problems.

Pregabalin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.


Drug Category/Class

  • Analgesics
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antiepileptics
  • Nervous System
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Other antiepileptics
Prescribed Pregabalin is used for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or spinal cord injury, and postherpetic ne...
Weight :159.2261
Structure Pregabalin
Generic Drug Pregabalin prescribed Pregabalin is used for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or spinal cord injury, and postherpetic ne...
Formula

C8H17NO2

Pregabalin has 97 Brands listed


Avertz (150 mg)Gabafit (150 mg)
Gabafit (75 mg)Gabamax (150 mg)
Gabamax (75 mg)Gabamax SR (75 mg)
Gabanext (150 mg)Gabanext (75 mg)
Gabasafe (150 mg)Gabasafe (75 mg)
Galinerve (150 mg)Galinerve (75 mg)
GB Lin (75 mg)Inrica (75 mg)
Jublin (150 mg)Jublin (75 mg)
Lyrica (150 mg)Lyrica (75 mg)
Maxgalin (150 mg)Maxgalin (50 mg)
Maxgalin (75 mg)Maxgalin ER (150 mg)
Maxgalin ER (75 mg)Mygalin (75 mg)
Neugaba (150 mg)Neugaba (75 mg)
Neugaba ER (150 mg)Neugaba ER (75 mg)
Neugalin (75 mg)Neupreg (75 mg)
Nova (150 mg)Nova (75 mg)
Nuramed (150 mg)Nuramed (75 mg)
P Dob (75 mg)Peg SR (150 mg)
Peg SR (75 mg)Pevesca (150 mg)
Pevesca (75 mg)Preega (75 mg)
Prega 150Prega 75
Pregab (150 mg)Pregab (75 mg)
Pregaba (150 mg)Pregaba (50 mg)
Pregaba (75 mg)Pregabal (75 mg)
Pregabid (150 mg)Pregabid (50 mg)
Pregabid (75 mg)Pregabid OD (100 mg)
Pregabin (150 mg)Pregabin (75 mg)
Pregacent (150 mg)Pregacent (75 mg)
Pregacon (150 mg)Pregacon (75 mg)
Pregadoc (150 mg)Pregadoc (75 mg)
Pregalin (100 mg)Pregalin (150 mg)
Pregalin (75 mg)Preganerve (100 mg)
Preganerve (150 mg)Preganerve (75 mg)
Pregastar (150 mg)Pregastar (75 mg)
Pregeb (100 mg)Pregeb (300 mg)
Pregeb OD (150 mg)Pregeb OD (75 mg)
Preglan (10 mg)Preglan (20 mg)
Preglan (40 mg)Preglan Inj (10 mg)
PregonPrejunate (150 mg)
Prejunate (75 mg)Prelin (75 mg)
Prenerv (150 mg)Preneu (75 mg)
Preneurolin (150 mg)Preneurolin (75 mg)
Proage (75 mg)Progab (150 mg)
Progab (75 mg)Rawllin 75
Regaba SRRevlin (150 mg)
Revlin (75 mg)Saneuron (75 mg)
Seizeline (75 mg)Vscover (75 mg)
Zenerv (75 mg)Zylin (150 mg)
Zylin (75 mg)

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