Pregabalin oral capsule side effects: A detailed guide

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pregabalin oral capsule to treat:

• nerve pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy, shingles, and spinal cord injury
• fibromyalgia
• partial-onset seizure, together with certain other drugs

This article describes possible side effects of pregabalin oral capsule. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for pregabalin.

Pregabalin oral capsule is a generic version of the brand-name drug Lyrica. Pregabalin also comes in other forms that you’ll swallow, but these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.

You can explore this overview article to learn more about pregabalin oral capsule, including the drug’s uses, dosage, and more.

More common side effects of pregabalin

Pregabalin oral capsule may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of pregabalin oral capsule include:

• dizziness
• sleepiness
• dry mouth
• swelling of the legs, hands, or feet*
• weight gain*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of pregabalin in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of pregabalin

Pregabalin may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of pregabalin oral capsule that occurred in studies include:

• difficulty concentrating
• blurry vision
• dry mouth
• confusion
• constipation
• weakness
• chest pain
• loss of balance and coordination
• weight gain*
• mild allergic reaction*

Pregabalin oral capsule may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of pregabalin in detail” section below.

Serious side effects of pregabalin

Pregabalin may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from pregabalin oral capsule, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with pregabalin oral capsule.

Serious side effects of pregabalin oral capsule that occurred in studies include:

• dizziness
• sleepiness
• misuse, dependence, or withdrawal
• swelling of the legs, hands, or feet*
• suicidal thoughts or behaviors*
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of pregabalin in detail” section below.

Common questions about side effects of pregabalin

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of pregabalin oral capsule. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is pregabalin safe for older adults?

Yes, pregabalin is generally safe for older adults. Studies of pregabalin included people ages 65 years and older. Older adults generally refer to people in this age group.

In studies, side effects among older adults were similar to those in younger people taking pregabalin for:

• nerve pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• shingles pain
• seizures

However, older adults had higher rates of side effects compared to younger people when taking pregabalin for fibromyalgia. Side effects that occurred more often in older adults taking pregabalin for fibromyalgia included:

• dizziness
• blurred vision
• balance issues

If you have questions about your risk of side effects from pregabalin given your age, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Will pregabalin 75 mg cause fewer side effects than the drug’s other strengths?

It’s possible. Side effects are possible with any strength of pregabalin oral capsule, including 75 milligrams (mg). But the types of side effects themselves do not differ between pregabalin strengths.

That said, the risk of having side effects from pregabalin oral capsule can vary with different dosages. (Dosage describes the strength of the drug you take and how often you take it.) Taking a higher dosage of pregabalin may increase your risk of side effects.

So, it’s possible to have more side effects or bothersome ones if your doctor increases your dosage. Usually, doctors increase pregabalin doses weekly. It’s not known whether the risk of side effects increases if the dosage is increased faster than weekly.

Your doctor will likely prescribe the lowest dosage of pregabalin oral capsule that helps treat your condition. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about your risk of side effects based on your pregabalin dosage.

Does pregabalin cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, pregabalin oral capsule may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time.

Examples of long-term side effects include:

• weight gain
• suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to best manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of pregabalin oral capsule may last.

Is misuse, dependence, or withdrawal a possible side effect of pregabalin?

Yes, pregabalin may cause misuse, dependence, or withdrawal. Misuse means a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s prescribed. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual. Withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on.

Pregabalin is a Schedule V controlled substance in the United States. A controlled substance is a drug the government regulates due to the risk of dependence or misuse. This means that healthcare professionals must follow strict guidelines and rules from the government to help prevent misuse of the drug.

Misusing pregabalin can also lead to addiction, which may involve any of the following:

• continuing to take a drug even if doing so causes harmful outcomes
• being unable to stop taking the drug
• neglecting work, school, or social obligations because of the drug

If you have concerns about misuse with pregabalin, it’s important to discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible.

Coupon for pregabalin

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for pregabalin when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Side effects of pregabalin in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of pregabalin oral capsule.

Weight gain

In studies, weight gain was common in people taking pregabalin oral capsule. This side effect is usually mild but may be serious for people with diabetes or heart conditions.

Certain factors can increase the risk of weight gain with pregabalin oral capsule. These include taking certain diabetes medications, such as thiazolidinediones.

Your doctor may check your weight during your follow-up appointments. They may also ask you to check your weight regularly. If you have sudden weight gain while taking pregabalin, tell your doctor right away.

Weight gain may be due to fluid retention. Other symptoms of weight gain caused by fluid buildup include:

• trouble breathing
• chest pain
• excessive fatigue (low energy)

Ways to manage

If you have weight gain, tell your doctor. They can check to see what may be causing your weight gain and help you manage a body weight that’s healthy for you.

If it’s safe for you, your doctor will likely recommend continuing treatment with pregabalin. If you’re taking thiazolidinedione medication, your doctor may change your diabetes treatment plan.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

In studies, suicidal thoughts and behaviors were rare in people taking pregabalin oral capsule. This side effect may be serious.

Symptoms of suicidal thoughts and behaviors may include:

• new or worsening depression
• thoughts about suicide or self-harm
• panic attacks
• agitation, irritability, or restlessness
• trouble sleeping
• other unusual changes in mood or behavior

Certain factors can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors with pregabalin oral capsule. These include a previous history of depression, mood disorders, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Ways to manage

Immediately call your doctor or seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Don’t stop taking pregabalin without talking with your doctor first. Stopping pregabalin too quickly may cause seizures.

Depending on the condition you’re taking pregabalin to treat, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks of continuing this treatment. For example, untreated epilepsy may also contribute to thoughts of suicide. (Pregabalin is used to treat seizures, which may be due to epilepsy.)

If you both agree you’ll stop taking pregabalin oral capsule, your doctor will advise how to slowly lower your dose over a minimum of one week. This is called a drug taper. It helps prevent the serious side effects, including seizures, that may occur if you suddenly stop taking pregabalin.

Suicide prevention

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

• Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
• Text HOME to the Crisis Textline at 741741.
• Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
• Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Swelling of the legs, hands, or feet

In studies, swelling of the legs, hands, or feet was common in people taking pregabalin oral capsule. This side effect can be mild in people without heart conditions or blood vessel problems. But it may be serious for some people with heart conditions.

People with heart problems have an increased risk of heart failure if they develop swelling in the legs, hands, or feet while taking pregabalin.

Symptoms that occur with fluid building up in the legs, hands, or feet include:

• weight gain from fluid increase
• chest pain
• difficulty walking

Certain factors can increase the risk of swelling in the legs, hands, and feet with pregabalin oral capsule. Taking a thiazolidinedione drug for diabetes, such as pioglitazone (Actos), can increase your risk of swelling with pregabalin.

Ways to manage

Tell your doctor if you have swelling of the legs, hands, or feet. If you’re taking medications that may increase your risk of swelling, your doctor may recommend changing your treatment.

Your doctor may monitor your weight to check for swelling. They may also monitor your heart function. If your heart function changes, your doctor may have you stop taking pregabalin oral capsule. They can recommend other treatment options to manage the condition pregabalin is treating.

Allergic reaction

For some people, pregabalin oral capsule can cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to pregabalin oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for pregabalin

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking pregabalin oral capsule.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to take pregabalin oral capsule if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether pregabalin oral capsule is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking pregabalin oral capsule, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• certain diabetes medications, such as pioglitazone (Actos)
• kidney problems
• drug misuse or alcohol use disorder
• depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, or mood changes
• heart problems, such as heart failure
• eye disorders
• past allergic reaction to pregabalin or its ingredients

Pregabalin and pregnancy

It’s not known whether pregabalin oral capsule should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Pregabalin may harm the fetus.

If you take pregabalin during pregnancy, you are encouraged to enroll in North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can do so by visiting this website or calling 888-233-2334. This registry monitors outcomes of people who take anticonvulsants during pregnancy.

Pregabalin and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether pregabalin oral capsule should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Pregabalin and alcohol

Pregabalin oral capsule is known to interact with alcohol. Pregabalin can increase the effects that alcohol has on motor skills. It can also increase alcohol’s side effects, including sleepiness and dizziness.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor. They will likely advise you to avoid drinking alcohol while taking pregabalin oral capsule to prevent serious side effects.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of pregabalin oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• When used to treat seizures, how do side effects of pregabalin compare with those of carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• How do side effects of pregabalin compare with those of morphine?
• How can I manage memory loss with pregabalin?
• What is known about pregabalin and cancer?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.