Pregabalin is used to treat epilepsy and anxiety.
It is also taken to treat nerve pain. Nerve pain can be caused by different illnesses 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 interfering with 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
Key facts
- Pregabalin is usually taken 2 or 3 times a day. You can take it with or without food.
- You don't have to have epilepsy for pregabalin to help with pain or anxiety.
- 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.
- Pregabalin is also called by the brand names Lyrica, Alzain, Lecaent and Rewisca.
Who can and can't take pregabalin
Pregabalin is only for adults. Do not give it to children under the age of 18.
