Like all medicines, pregabalin can cause side effects although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects of pregabalin
These common side effects of pregabalin may happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and go away by themselves.
There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Headaches
Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. It's best not to drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.
Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking pregabalin. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
Feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy
Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery until you feel better.
As your body gets used to pregabalin, these side effects should wear off. If they do not wear off within a week or two, your doctor may reduce your dose or increase it more slowly. If that does not work, your doctor may suggest a different medicine.
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
Avoid having a big meal, smoking, or drinking alcohol, tea or coffee in the evening. Try not to watch television or use your mobile phone before going to bed. Instead, try to relax for an hour before bedtime.
Diarrhoea
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined pill or the progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Mood changes
If you feel this medicine is causing mood changes, speak to your doctor. They may be able to change you to a different medicine.
Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your pregabalin after you've eaten.
If you're being sick, try small frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark strong-smelling pee.
If you take the combined pill or the progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Swollen hands, arms, legs and feet
If your feet are swollen, try sitting with your feet up on a chair or bed. When you do stand up, try not to stand for too long. Exercise might help if your arms are swollen. If that does not help or it becomes painful, contact your doctor.
Blurred vision
Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery while this is happening. If it lasts for more than a couple of days speak to your doctor as they may need to change your treatment.
Difficulty getting an erection
Speak to your doctor. They may be able to change your medicine or offer other treatments that might help with this problem.
Weight gain
Pregabalin can make you hungrier so it can be hard to stop yourself putting on weight.
Try to eat well without increasing your portion sizes. Do not snack on foods that contain a lot of calories, such as crisps, cakes, biscuits and sweets. If you're hungry between meals, eat fruit and vegetables and low-calorie foods.
Increasing your level of exercise will also help to keep your weight stable.
Memory problems
If you're having problems with your memory, speak to your doctor. They may want you to try a different medicine.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
If you have diabetes, pregabalin can affect your blood sugar control. Monitor your blood sugar more often for the first few weeks after you start taking pregabalin and adjust your diabetes treatment if you need to. Talk to your doctor or diabetes nurse if you want more advice on what to do.
Serious side effects
Very few people taking pregabalin have serious side effects.
Call a doctor or call 111 now if:
- you have severe dizziness or you pass out
- you are seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
- you have problems going to the toilet, including blood in your pee, needing to pee more often, or constipation
- your heart starts beating faster or slower than usual
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
- you have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life
This can sometimes happen after only a week of taking pregabalin.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring all the medicines you take with you.
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to pregabalin.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Long-term side effects
Some people can become addicted to pregabalin.
If this happens, you'll have withdrawal symptoms after you stop taking the medicine.
When you stop taking pregabalin, you'll need to reduce your dose gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Do not stop taking pregabalin without talking to your doctor.
You can also talk to your doctor if you're concerned about becoming dependent on pregabalin.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of pregabalin. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.