Product Details

Product Information of Lyrica

What you need to know before you take Lyrica

Do not take Lyrica If you are allergic to pregabalin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Warnings and Precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lyrica. • Some patients taking Lyrica have reported symptoms suggesting an allergic reaction. These symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat, as well as diffuse skin rash. Should you experience any of these reactions, you should contact your physician immediately. • Lyrica has been associated with dizziness and somnolence, which could increase the occurrence of accidental injury (fall) in elderly patients. Therefore, you should be careful until you are used to any effect the medicine might have. • Lyrica may cause blurring or loss of vision, or other changesin eyesight, many of which are temporary. You should immediately tell your doctor if you experience any changes in your vision. • Some patients with diabetes who gain weight while taking pregabalin may need an alteration in their diabetic medicines. • Certain side effects may be more common, such as sleepiness, because patients with spinal cord injury may be taking other medicines to treat, for example, pain or spasticity, that have similar side effects to Pregabalin and the severity of these effects may be increased when taken together. • There have been reports of heart failure in some patients when taking Lyrica; these patients were mostly elderly with cardiovascular conditions. Before taking this medicine you should tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease. • There have been reports of kidney failure in some patients when taking Lyrica. If while taking Lyrica you notice decreased urination, you should tell your doctor as stopping the medicine may improve this. • A small number of people being treated with anti-epileptics such as Lyrica have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately contact your doctor. • When Lyrica is taken with other medicines that may cause constipation (such as some types of pain medicines) it is possible that gastrointestinal problems may occur (e.g. constipation, blocked or paralysed bowel). Tell your doctor if you experience constipation, especially if you are prone to this problem. • Before taking this medicine you should tell your doctor if you have a history of alcoholism or any drug abuse or dependence. Do not take more medicine than prescribed. • There have been reports of convulsions when taking Lyrica or shortly after stopping Lyrica. If you experience a convulsion, contact your doctor immediately. • There have been reports of reduction in brain function (encephalopathy) in some patients taking Lyrica when they have other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of any serious medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease. • There have been reports of breathing difficulties. If you have nervous system disorders, respiratory disorders, renal impairment, or you are older than 65, your doctor may prescribe you a different dosing regimen. Contact your doctor if you experience trouble breathing or shallow breaths. Page 3 of 7 Children and adolescents The safety and efficacy in children and adolescents (under 18 years of age) has not been established and therefore, pregabalin should not be used in this age group. Other medicines and Lyrica Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Lyrica and certain other medicines may influence each other (interaction). When taken with certain other medicines which have sedative effects(including opioids), Lyrica may potentiate these effects, and could lead to respiratory failure, coma and death. The degree of dizziness, sleepiness and decreased concentration may be increased if Lyrica is taken together with medicines containing: Oxycodone – (used as a pain-killer) Lorazepam – (used for treating anxiety) Alcohol Lyrica may be taken with oral contraceptives. Lyrica with food, drink and alcohol Lyrica capsules may be taken with or without food. It is advised not to drink alcohol while taking Lyrica. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Lyrica should not be taken during pregnancy or when breast-feeding, unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. Pregabalin use during the first 3 months of pregnancy may cause birth defects in the unborn child that require medical treatment. In a study reviewing data from women in Nordic countries who took pregabalin in the first 3 months of pregnancy, 6 babies in every 100 had such birth defects. This compares to 4 babies in every 100 born to women not treated with pregabalin in the study. Abnormalities of the face (orofacial clefts), the eyes, the nervous system (including the brain), kidneys and genitals have been reported. Effective contraception must be used by women of childbearing potential. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Lyrica may produce dizziness, sleepiness and decreased concentration. You should not drive, operate complex machinery or engage in other potentially hazardous activities until you know whether this medicine affects your ability to perform these activities. Lyrica contains lactose monohydrate If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. Lyrica contains sodium This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per hard capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.