Short answer: Pregabalin (Lyrica) is a nerve pain and antiseizure medicine used for diabetic nerve pain, shingles pain, fibromyalgia, spinal cord injury pain, and partial seizures. It is a Schedule V controlled substance because it can be misused, and stopping it suddenly can cause withdrawal.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Pregabalin is a gabapentinoid and a Schedule V controlled substance in the US.
- Main uses: Nerve pain; fibromyalgia; seizures.
- Timing: effects start in about 1 hour (peak); pain relief within a week and last 8 to 12 hours.
- Most dangerous mix: Alcohol, which can cause additive sedation.
- Naloxone: it does not reverse this drug, but give it whenever opioids could be involved.
- Dependence risk: Moderate.
- Legal route: only with a prescription from a DEA-registered clinician, filled by a licensed pharmacy.
What is pregabalin?
Pregabalin is approved for nerve pain from diabetic neuropathy, shingles (postherpetic neuralgia), and spinal cord injury; for fibromyalgia; and as an add-on for partial-onset seizures in people 1 month and older.
It binds to a part of nerve calcium channels (alpha-2-delta), calming overactive nerve signaling. It is not an opioid, but it can cause euphoria at high doses and is sometimes misused, especially with opioids.
Quick facts
| Fact | Pregabalin |
|---|---|
| Generic name | Pregabalin |
| Brand names | Lyrica, Lyrica CR |
| Drug class | Gabapentinoid (calcium channel alpha-2-delta ligand) |
| US legal status | Schedule V, prescription only |
| Approved uses | Diabetic nerve pain, postherpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia, spinal cord injury pain, partial-onset seizures (add-on) |
| Forms | Capsules, extended-release tablets, oral solution |
| Onset | Pain relief within the first week |
| Half-life | About 6 hours |
| Cleared by | Kidneys, unchanged |
How long does pregabalin last?
- Starts working: About 1 hour (peak); pain relief within a week
- Effects last: 8 to 12 hours
- Half-life: About 6 hours
Many people notice benefit within the first week.
Timing varies with the dose, the form, how it is taken, liver and kidney function, age, and other drugs taken at the same time.
What are the biggest risks of pregabalin?
Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, swelling of the hands and feet, weight gain, blurred vision, dry mouth, and trouble concentrating.
Serious risks include allergic swelling of the face and throat (angioedema), breathing problems with sedatives, suicidal thoughts (a class warning for antiseizure drugs), and misuse.
Warning: The FDA warns that gabapentin and pregabalin can cause serious, sometimes fatal, breathing problems when combined with opioids or other sedatives, and in older adults and people with lung disease.
What should you never mix with pregabalin?
| Combined with | What happens | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Opioids | Slowed breathing; higher overdose risk | Use lowest doses; monitor |
| Alcohol | Additive sedation | Avoid |
| Benzodiazepines and sleep medicines | Additive sedation and breathing problems | Use caution |
| ACE inhibitors (lisinopril) | Higher risk of angioedema | Use caution |
| Pioglitazone | More swelling and weight gain | Monitor |
Check any combination with the DoseUses combination checker or ask a pharmacist.
What are the signs of a pregabalin overdose, and what should you do?
Pregabalin overdose causes drowsiness, confusion, agitation, restlessness, and, rarely, seizures or coma. Most deaths involve opioids or other sedatives taken at the same time.
If someone may have overdosed
- Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, hard to wake, or breathing slowly.
- For advice when the person is awake and stable, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US, free, 24 hours).
- If opioids could be involved, including pills not from a pharmacy, give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone does not reverse pregabalin, but it will not harm the person.
- Stay with the person and place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
What is pregabalin withdrawal like, and how long does it last?
Stopping pregabalin suddenly after regular use can cause withdrawal. The label advises tapering over at least one week.
- Days 1 to 2Symptoms beginInsomnia, nausea, headache, anxiety, sweating, diarrhea.
- Days 2 to 7PeakRestlessness, pain, and in people with epilepsy, seizures.
- WeeksRecoveryMost symptoms resolve within weeks; longer after high doses.
See the withdrawal timelines and the full pregabalin withdrawal guide.
Is pregabalin legal?
In the United States, pregabalin is a Schedule V controlled substance. The only legal way to get it is with a prescription from a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), filled by a licensed pharmacy. Depending on state law, that can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
- Refills: Schedule V prescriptions can be refilled as the prescriber authorizes. Some states set stricter limits.
- Telehealth: federal flexibilities let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe Schedule II to V medicines after a telemedicine visit, without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. A permanent DEA rule was under final review in late 2026. State rules can be stricter.
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
Outside the United States
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Class C since 2019; prescription only |
| Canada | Prescription medicine; not a scheduled controlled drug |
| Australia | Schedule 4 prescription medicine |
| International | Not under UN control |
Frequently asked questions about pregabalin
Is pregabalin a controlled substance?
Yes, in the US it is Schedule V, the lowest schedule, because it can be misused.
Is pregabalin the same as gabapentin?
They work the same way, but pregabalin is absorbed more predictably and is more potent per milligram. Gabapentin is not federally controlled.
Does pregabalin cause weight gain?
Yes, in some people, along with swelling of the legs.
How long does pregabalin take to work for nerve pain?
Many people notice benefit within the first week.
Sources
- Lyrica (pregabalin) prescribing information, DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
- FDA warns about serious breathing problems with seizure and nerve pain medicines gabapentin and pregabalin, US Food and Drug Administration, 2019.
- Controlled Substance Schedules, DEA Diversion Control Division.
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth, US Department of Health and Human Services.
- BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information, US Food and Drug Administration.
- Safe Pharmacy, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- One Pill Can Kill, US Drug Enforcement Administration.
- International drug control conventions, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
This guide summarizes the sourced DoseUses Pregabalin profile, written from FDA labels, DEA rules, and federal health agencies. It is educational and is not medical advice. Last updated October 5, 2026.
