Like all medicines, pregabalin can cause side effects although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects
Keep taking your pregabalin even if you get side effects. Tell a GP or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or do not go away.
There are things you can do to help manage common side effects:
Feeling sleepy or dizzy
Do not drive, cycle or use 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 2, your GP may reduce your dose or increase it more slowly. If that does not work you may need to switch to a different medicine.
Headache
Make sure you rest and drink fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol.
Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your GP if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
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 medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive 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 as you may need a change of medicine.
Feeling sick (nausea)
Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. If it carries on, tell your GP.
Swollen hands, arms, legs and feet
If your feet are swollen, try sitting with your feet up on a chair or bed and try not to stand for a long time. Exercise might help if your arms are swollen.
If that does not help or it becomes painful, contact your GP.
Blurred vision
Avoid driving, cycling or using tools or machinery while this is happening. If it lasts for more than 1 or 2 days, your GP may need to change your treatment.
Difficulty getting an erection
Speak to your GP, as 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 a challenge to stop yourself putting on weight.
Try to eat well by having a healthy balanced diet 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 feel hungry between meals, eat fruit and vegetables and low-calorie foods.
Regular exercise will also help to keep your weight stable.
Memory problems
If you're having problems with your memory, speak to your GP. They may try a different medicine.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from taking pregabalin are not common.
Tell your GP if you have a history of heart disease. Some patients with heart conditions have reported heart problems after taking pregabalin.
Urgent advice: Contact your GP immediately if you or someone else has:
- difficulties breathing
- blurred vision, loss of vision or other changes in eyesight
- seizures
- thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
- severe dizziness or passes out
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real)
- problems going to the toilet, including blood in your pee, needing to pee more often, pain when peeing or constipation
Serious allergic reaction
A serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to pregabalin is rare. But it can happen.
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to an emergency department (ED) if:
- you get a rash that is itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling
- you're wheezing
- you get tightness in your chest or throat
- you have trouble breathing or talking
- your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects.
Non-urgent advice: Find your patient information leaflet
Your patient information leaflet is the leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can find a digital version of the leaflet online.
Report side effects
You can report any suspected side effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA): report an issue - hpra.ie
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 GP.
You can also talk to your GP if you're worried about becoming dependent on pregabalin.
Check your blood sugar if you have diabetes
Pregabalin can affect your blood glucose (sugar) if you have diabetes.
Check your blood glucose more for the first few weeks of taking pregabalin. Your might need to adjust your diabetes treatment if pregabalin affects your blood glucose or weight.
Talk to your GP or diabetes nurse for more advice on what to do.