Pregabalin is used to treat nerve pain, epilepsy, and fibromyalgia. While it is not known exactly how the drug works to treat these conditions, it is known to bind to certain parts of calcium channels in the central nervous system. The drug is taken by mouth, usually two or three times a day. Some possible side effects of pregabalin include dizziness, coordination problems, and weight gain.
Pregabalin (
Lyrica®) is a prescription medication used to treat the following conditions:
- Epilepsy -- The medication is approved to be used along with other seizure medications to treat a certain type of seizures called partial seizures.
- Fibromyalgia -- Pregabalin helps relieve the pain associated with this condition.
- Nerve pain -- The medication is also approved to treat the chronic nerve pain that occurs after an outbreak of shingles (known medically as postherpetic neuralgia) or due to diabetes (known medically as diabetic neuropathy).
Pregabalin is made by Pfizer, Inc.
How Does Pregabalin Work?
It is not known exactly how pregabalin works to prevent partial seizures in people with
epilepsy. In addition, it is not known exactly how the medication works for nerve pain or
fibromyalgia. Pregabalin is known to bind to certain parts of
calcium channels in the central nervous system, and this may be how it works for seizures, nerve pain, and
anxiety. Although not approved for
anxiety treatment, it has anti-anxiety properties and may be an effective
anxiety medication.
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