Pregabalin or Lyrica: instructions for use, side effects

What are these lyrics

Pregabalin is used for medical purposes to reduce pain caused by irritation of the nervous system. Lyrica is the trade name for this drug. Thanks to its fascinating narcotic properties, the drug has become of interest to addicted people.

The pharmaceutical product is a shiny crystalline powder, it is bitter, distributed in the form of tablets or capsules. Additional components of the substance include talc, starch, and lactose.

Previously, pregabalin was considered safe to use. The popularity of the drug grew after it became known that it helps reduce:

• Anxiety
• Depression

In 2010, pregabalin was found to cause physical dependence. Since 2012, it is prohibited to dispense medications from pharmacies without a prescription from the attending physician.

Non-addictive medications

The free sale of pregabalin and its substitutes in pharmacies is prohibited. But over-the-counter sales are allowed. These include medications, the composition of which is fundamentally different, but the effect is the same.

For fibromyalgia, the following are used as analgesics:

• nimesulide;
• diclofenac;
• ketoprofen.

These pregabalin substitutes inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which is responsible for the production of prostaglandins, bradykinins and leukotrienes. These are biologically active compounds on which the severity of pain in various pathologies in general and fibromyalgia in particular depends. The described remedies are not ideal - for example, they can cause individual intolerance. But they are valuable because they are not capable of provoking drug addiction.

Popular analogues include gabapentin, finlepsin and carbamazepine. Gabapentin is prescribed for relief of:

• epileptic seizures;
• neuropathic pain;
• postherpetic and alcoholic neuralgia.

Finlepsin and carbamazepine act as agents:

• antiepileptics;
• painkillers;
• normothymic (mood stabilizing);
• antimanic;
• antidiuretic.

Thanks to finlepsin and carbamazepine, the amount of chemicals in the body that lead to excitation and overexcitation of nerve structures is reduced. They do not cause drug addiction, but have other side effects. That is why they should only be prescribed by the attending physician - he knows the physiological characteristics of his patient well.

Anticonvulsant substitutes include Depakine Chrono. It acts like:

• muscle relaxant (relaxes muscles);
• sedative (calming).

Depakine Chrono does not cause mental and physical addiction, like pregabalin - its replacement is justified. It is used in the treatment of epileptic seizures - generalized (the so-called convulsive motor activity that extends to all muscle groups) and partial (those in which there is no impairment of consciousness). It is also effective in treating Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe encephalopathy (brain damage) that first appears in childhood.

What is it used for?

Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant and antiepileptic drug and is considered one of the most effective anticonvulsant drugs on the pharmaceutical market.

The antiepileptic effect after taking the medication begins very quickly, in addition, the pharmaceutical agent actively affects the patient’s psyche. Due to these effects, pregabalin is more popular than other alternative drugs.

The use of pregabalin helps eliminate pain and sensitivity. Taking the medication on an empty stomach increases its effectiveness.

What else is included in pregabalin (Lyrica)

• Gelatin
• Magnesium chloride
• Lactose disaccharide
• Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate
• Titanium dioxide
• Various types of dyes

Other pregabalin substitutes

Of these, the following should be noted:

• Pregabalin Richter;
• Pregabalin Canon;
• Algerica.

The first medication is a generic. This is the name for medicines containing the same amount of active substance as the original. The described medicine is more affordable than Lyrica; patients with different levels of financial security can buy it.

And the second medicine is pregabalin-containing. It has the same biochemical properties (digestibility, dosage and side effects). It's also more accessible than Lyrica.

Algerica is produced by a Croatian manufacturer. Its side effects are more pronounced. There is a single dosage (300 mg), it is intended for an intensive course of treatment. Due to the lack of a release form in a lower dose, the risk of drug addiction is increased.

Indications and contraindications for use

Doctors prescribe medication in the following cases:

• Epilepsy, seizures
• Neuropathic pain sensations
• Pain in muscles and joints
• In combination with other medications, it is prescribed to treat panic attacks.

The substance is contraindicated:

• In case of drug intolerance
• Persons under the age of majority
• Hereditary diseases

With caution, the pharmaceutical drug is prescribed to people who have a diseased liver or kidneys.

Content:

1. Characteristics of the drug
2. The most popular substitute is Lyrica.
3. Other pregabalin substitutes
4. Non-addictive medications

Many drugs have “duplicates” - drugs with similar characteristics that cause similar effects, and therefore are interchangeable for the treatment of a particular pathology. Pregabalin is used in the treatment of a number of neurological diseases; its analogues are more preferable for various reasons. Some are cheaper, others (which are the most valuable), unlike it, do not cause drug addiction.

Instructions for use

It is important to note that depending on the situation, the doctor prescribes the dosage of Lyrica individually for each patient. Self-administration of the drug leads to side effects.

The maximum daily dose should not exceed 600 mg, the minimum 150 mg. Most often, the doctor prescribes the use of the drug 1-2 times a day.

Therapeutic course

Depends on the type of disease:

• epileptic seizures. In this disease, dose adjustment is carried out with extreme caution. The dose quantity can be increased only once a week
• for neuropathic pain, the dosage is increased every 4 days until the person feels better
• fibromyalgia, with this disorder the drug is used only 2 times a day
• for panic attacks, the doctor changes the dosage only after obtaining the patient’s consent

The duration of the treatment course directly depends on the specific case and the patient’s well-being.

The most popular substitute is Lyrica.

This is a medicine whose active ingredient is pregabalin. It has analgesic and anticonvulsant effects. It causes euphoria, which is why it is popular among those who like to “expand consciousness”. The side effects are the same as when taking pregabalin - analogues, as it turns out, are not always a solution to the problem. With uncontrolled use of Lyrica, addiction is formed and disorders occur:

• mental - irritability, depression, panic, aggressiveness;
• neurological - dizziness, drowsiness, nervous exhaustion, convulsions.

The most common somatic disorders are system failures:

• cardiovascular - arrhythmias, signs of heart failure;
• respiratory - increased breathing, cough, nasal congestion;
• digestive - nausea with vomiting, constipation or diarrhea;
• urinary - enuresis (urinary incontinence).

Please note: An addiction to Lyrics develops quickly. When prescribing it, it is necessary to monitor patients who have been identified as drug dependent. They may experience suicidal thoughts, and this is also an indication for medical supervision.

Analogs

Lyrica has analogues, that is, drugs that have approximately the same properties. It is important to know that similar drugs can only be used after consultation with a doctor. Since the dosage of an alternative remedy must be selected by a doctor. In addition, it is worth considering that there are still differences between the lyrics and analogues.

Comparison of Lyrica with its analogues

Taking medications according to the dosage prescribed by the doctor helps to avoid side effects. If you become dependent on Lyrica, it is important to seek drug treatment help.

Characteristics of the drug

It is used in the treatment of neurological pathologies such as:

• diabetic neuropathy - damage to peripheral nerves due to diabetes mellitus;
• postherpetic neuropathy is a similar disorder that occurs after suffering from herpes;
• epilepsy - seizures;
• neuropathic pain - those that arise due to overexcitation of nerve cells;
• fibromyalgia - musculoskeletal pain;
• generalized anxiety disorder is a condition characterized by restlessness, worry, and panic.

Addicts use higher doses of this medication to induce a feeling of euphoria. Quite quickly it leads to disorders of various organs. In addition, literally after one or two doses, dependence on pregabalin is formed - replacement with analogues is extremely important because of this.

Of the psycho-emotional disturbances that can be provoked by this drug, the most common are irritability, depression, and hallucinations. The most common neurological disorders are insomnia, headache, dizziness. Typical somatic consequences are disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

Release from pharmacies

Just a few years ago, dispensing structural analogues of Pregabalin was a headache for pharmacy employees. Pharmacists and pharmacists have encountered inappropriate behavior from clients with persistent drug addiction. Despite the fact that they were buying an expensive (about 1,000 rubles) drug on an industrial scale, sales were falling. It’s just that respectable citizens preferred not to visit pharmacies where drug addicts constantly shopped.

Not surprisingly, structural substitutes soon disappeared from the shelves. At first, pharmacies themselves stopped purchasing it in order to preserve their reputation. And then the Ministry of Health banned its sale without a prescription.

The reason is the sale of the drug to minors at parties and even in schools.

Now Pregabalin is a drug prohibited from free sale. But many pharmacies are still subject to huge fines for violating this law.

Literature:

1. Pharmacology of antiepileptic drugs: a textbook for students in specialty programs “General Medicine”, “Pediatrics”, “Pharmacy” / I. A. Vinogradova, V. D. Yunash, S. V. Goranskaya [etc.]; Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Petrozavodsk State University. — Petrozavodsk: PetrSU Publishing House, 2021. — 32 p.
2. Kozlovsky, Vladimir Leonidovich. / Brief reference book on psychopharmacology, pharmacotherapy and mental pathology - St. Petersburg: SpetsLit, 2015.
3. Neurology: national guide / Avakyan G. N. et al.; Ch. ed.: E.I. Gusev [etc.]; Assoc. honey. Island for Quality, ASMOK, All-Russian Society of Neurologists. - Moscow: GEOTAR-Media, 2009. - 1035 p.

Possible side effects

Side effects can be avoided by carefully following medical recommendations. It should be borne in mind that frequent use of over-the-counter analogues can cause an overdose. Most often, adverse systemic reactions from the body are manifested by the following symptoms:

• constriction of the pupils;
• muscle weakness;
• dizziness, confusion, impaired coordination of movements;
• feeling of lack of air when inhaling, shortness of breath;
• decrease in general body temperature;
• pale skin, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;

• diarrhea or constipation;
• suppression of appetite, flatulence, attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• decreased heart rate;
• headaches;
• visual and hearing disorders;
• dry mouth.

Taking capsules or tablets leads to the development of local adverse reactions. They manifest themselves as typical signs of urticaria - swelling of the skin, redness, rash, itching, pain when touched. If any side effect is detected, you should consult a doctor. He will reduce the dose or replace the drugs with other, safe analogues.

Over-the-counter analogues with antiepileptic action

Pregabalin analogues with powerful anticonvulsant activity are used in the treatment of epilepsy. But all of them are available only by prescription, as they are addictive. Pharmacies sell medicines that have a mild sedative and calming effect. They do not stop epileptic seizures, but prevent their occurrence. Over-the-counter substitutes for Pregabalin include the following pharmacological drugs:

• Novo-Passit;
• Noopept;
• Tenoten.

The list of natural over-the-counter analogues of Pregabalin includes herbal products with a sedative effect. Motherwort, valerian, and peony are good for calming. They are used as part of complex therapy for partial epilepsy. These drugs are also indicated for the elimination of anxiety disorders, like Pregabalin.

Herbal over-the-counter substitutes for Pregabalin normalize sleep and prevent the development of depressive conditions.

They cope with constant nervousness, trembling, muscle tension, sweating, palpitations, dizziness and discomfort in the solar plexus area.