Pregabalin is an effective drug in demand in psychiatry, neurology, and rheumatology, which is available only by prescription. The drug and its over-the-counter analogues quickly cope with epileptic seizures, anxiety, and musculoskeletal pain.
Characteristics of the drug
Pregabalin is a pharmacological drug that was previously freely sold in pharmacies. It was in demand among patients with epilepsy, acute pain in muscles and joints, and increased causeless anxiety. About 5 years ago, Pregabalin was sold upon presentation of a prescription from a doctor. And all because of the pronounced side effects - euphoria, lethargy, confusion. When combined with alcohol, auditory and visual hallucinations are common.
Lyrics: consequences of use
And although Lyrica is not made from opium, the withdrawal symptoms from it are no weaker than from drugs such as heroin. And even for us narcologists, it is very difficult to cope with withdrawal from lyricism in a drug addict after stopping this drug. In case of an overdose of Lyrica, the consequences can also be dire. In particular, the following symptoms are observed:
- Depression, feelings of fear and anxiety;
- lability of the emotional sphere - a person often gets irritated for any minor reason, or, conversely, is in a state of excessive euphoria;
- The patient usually feels very dizzy and may be lethargic and drowsy.
- Lack of ability to sleep; due to withdrawal symptoms from Lyrica, patients do not sleep for 3-4 days.
- Unbearable pain of aching and groaning nature in the bones, joints, muscles throughout the body.
It is assumed that the medical community is not yet aware of all the consequences of abuse of this drug, and soon doctors will learn about them.
Nowadays you can find a lot of information on the Internet about drug addicts and people who have not previously used drugs who have become dependent on Lyrica. The pills they took while self-medicating made them drug addicts. On various forums they often share their impressions that they experience.
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.
What is Lyrica as a drug?
At first, drug addicts took this drug as a pain reliever. It very effectively relieved withdrawal symptoms in the same way that, in essence, the drug Lyrica is. And although this medicine is not an opiate, the human body quickly gets used to it, and in addition to psychological dependence, the drug addict develops physiological dependence.
Dependence on this drug can occur not only among drug addicts who use it as a pain reliever. Patients who are being treated for various diseases, if they use the drug incorrectly, for a long time and excessively, can also get used to it, that is, become drug dependent.
A person who has taken the “ drug Lyrica ” feels approximately the same as after consuming opium derivatives, in particular heroin. The person experiences a feeling of euphoria and pleasure.
Now “Lyrica” has already begun to be combined with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The fact is that alcohol, by affecting the human psyche, thereby makes the sensation produced by drugs much stronger. However, the combined use of alcoholic beverages and the drug Lyrica is much more harmful to health than taking these substances separately.
Until June 1, 2012, you could buy Lyrica in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. At the moment, a prescription is required to purchase it. However, even now some pharmacists and pharmacists, for the purpose of profit, can sell the drug, as they say, “under the counter.”
What are over-the-counter analogs intended for?
The main indication for the use of Pregabalin analogs is the relief of acute pain in the musculoskeletal system. They are used both as monotherapy and as part of complex treatment with narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The drugs help patients with the following pathological conditions:
- neuropathic pain, which is not a response to physical damage, but is associated with disturbances in the functioning of areas of the peripheral and central nervous systems;
- generalized anxiety disorders, which are manifested by increased nervous excitability, sleep disorders, depression;
- Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by musculoskeletal pain and the presence of specific points of increased sensitivity.
Substitutes are intended to eliminate partial epileptic seizures. They are most often used in combination with other anticonvulsants. The use of drugs is also recommended for the prevention of another attack of epilepsy.
Analogs
Here is a description of similar drugs, similar in composition or effect on the body, to Lyrica.
Analogs, generics, and substitutes for Lyrica include drugs produced by other manufacturers, under a different trade name, or containing another active ingredient, but having the same or similar therapeutic effects.
There are both cheaper analogues and more expensive ones. In addition, the dosage of Lyrica analogues may differ - from 25 mg to 300 mg per capsule. Some of them can be purchased without prescriptions.
Remember that to change a prescribed medication, you must consult your doctor.
Phenibut
Anti-anxiety and nootropic agent with aminophenylbutyric acid as an active substance. The analogue eliminates well:
- anxiety;
- fear;
- panic attacks.
Additionally, as a nootropic it improves brain function and general physical condition. Phenibut has no sedative effect and virtually no side effects. Used as sports nutrition. Suitable for treating children over two years of age. Sold in pharmacies with a prescription, on sports nutrition websites - without a prescription.
Noofen
This analogue is used to eliminate anxiety, psycho-emotional tension, and neuroses. Additionally improves concentration, memory, sleep. Contains the same active ingredient as Phenibut. There are also few possible side effects that can be caused by taking the drug.
The difference between the drugs is in the manufacturer, the release form - Noofen is produced in capsules, not tablets, and the composition of the auxiliary elements. Produced in Latvia, it is distinguished by the quality of raw materials and a high level of production control at all stages. Approved for the treatment of children from three years of age. Available in pharmacies with a prescription.
Anvifen
Another medicine is an analogue of Phenibut and Noofen based on the active substance aminophenylbutyric acid. It also has anti-anxiety and nootropic, anticonvulsant effects. A slight difference from analogues in the composition of excipients. Anvifen is available in capsules with a wide range of dosages. Produced in Russia. Side effects occur due to individual intolerance to the substances included in the composition.
At the beginning of the course of treatment, dizziness and nausea are possible, which disappear after a few days. This is where the undesirable consequences end. Can be prescribed from 3 years of age. Sold in pharmacies with a prescription.
Seizar
This analogue is a potent drug for the treatment of diseases of the nervous system and is classified as an antiepileptic drug. The active ingredient is lamotrigine. Normalizes neuron activity. Appointed from 3 years of age. Indications for use: epilepsy, bipolar disorders. Common side effects of the analogue include:
- skin rash;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- irritability;
- blurred vision;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- increased fatigue.
In addition, various disorders of the skin, musculoskeletal, connective tissue, nervous, gastrointestinal, lymphatic, immune systems, mental disorders and liver dysfunction may occur less often. Available in tablets of 25, 50 or 100 mg in Macedonia. Dispensed from pharmacies with a prescription.
Lamitor
An analogue of Sezar in substance is lamotrigine. This is a prescription anticonvulsant drug that can be used for partial seizures. It is also taken to prevent mood disorders such as depression, mania and bipolar disorders.
It is the closest possible analogue of Lyrics. In rare cases, it is prescribed for the treatment of seizures in children over 2 years of age. Contraindication for use: liver disease. Frequent side effects are similar to those of Seizar.
Gabagamma
A drug prescribed for epilepsy, neuropathic and neuropathic pain. Available in 400 mg capsules. The active substance is gabapentin. Can be used in patients over 3 years of age. For adults, it is also used in the treatment of mood disorders, depression, mania, and bipolar disorder. An important contraindication to taking this analogue is pancreatitis.
Negative consequences of taking medication can most often be: viral diseases, pneumonia, respiratory and urinary tract infections, leukopenia, anorexia, increased appetite, disturbances in thinking and psyche, sensitivity, coordination of movements, vision, hypertension, shortness of breath, swelling, rash, gastrointestinal dysfunction , dental problems and others. Prescription release.
Structural analogues of Pregabalin
In pharmacies, the free sale of not only Pregabalin, but also all its structural analogues is prohibited. This is the name for pharmacological drugs with identical active ingredients. Exact analogues of the drug:
- Lyrics
. A drug from German with a pronounced antiepileptic effect. It is characterized by accelerated absorption of the active ingredient due to the characteristics of the auxiliary composition; - Algerica
. Produced by the Croatian pharmaceutical factory PLIVA HRVATSKA in the form of capsules of various colors. The cost of Algerica is approximately the same as that of Pregabalin - 1000 rubles.
Relatively recently, the domestic pharmaceutical factory North Star began producing Pregabalin. The capsules contain pregabalin, but the auxiliary composition differs somewhat from the Hungarian drug. But this does not affect the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug. A doctor can prescribe Pregabalin to a patient, both imported and domestically produced.
Current substitutes
For the treatment of fibromyalgia, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders, there are many drugs similar in action to Pregabalin. They differ in active and additional ingredients, release form, and you can buy them without a prescription.
A drug | Manufacturer | Active substance | Cost, in rubles |
Diclofenac | OZON LLC, OJSC Tatkhimfarmpreparaty (Russia), Hemofarm (Serbia), Magistra C&C (Romania) | diclofenac | from 40 |
Ketoprofen | Vertex, OZONE | ketoprofen | from 70 |
Nimesulide | Atoll (Russia), Berezovsky Pharmaceutical Plant (Russia), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Israel), Obolenskoye (Russia) | nimesulide | from 70 |
Neurodiclovit | GL Pharma (Austria) | pyridoxine hydrochloride, diclofenac sodium, thiamine hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin | from 200 |
Noopept | Pharmstandard, Russia | N-phenylacetyl-L-propylglycine ethyl ester | from 300 |
All drugs are substitutes for Pregabalin, but rarely become the first choice in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. They are safer and less likely to cause adverse reactions. But Pregabalin relieves the symptoms of pathologies better and faster and provides long-term remission.
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.
conclusions
Lyrica is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders and epilepsy. However, it is quite dangerous, addictive, and has a wide range of side effects. If possible, if the patient’s condition allows, it is advisable to use milder drugs like Lyrica for their therapeutic effect.
Analogue drugs Lyrica containing aminophenylbutyric acid, such as Phenibut, Noofen, Anvifen, are also effective in anti-anxiety therapy and are used as a complex therapy for the treatment of seizures. And at the same time, they have virtually no side effects. They can be purchased as sports nutrition without prescriptions.
Non-prescription painkillers
The closest analogues of Pregabalin are narcotic analgesics, the free sale of which in pharmacies is strictly prohibited. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve acute pain. These over-the-counter substitutes are available as parenteral products, tablets, and ointments. But in terms of the power of analgesic action, only injection solutions with the following active ingredients are similar to Pregabalin:
- nimesulide;
- diclofenac;
- ketoprofen.
Over-the-counter substitutes for Pregabalin inhibit cyclooxygenase, an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins, bradykinins, and leukotrienes. They are the cause of all the discomfort with fibromyalgia. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs eliminate not only muscle-bone pain, but also other characteristic symptoms of severe pathology. These are acute migraine-type headaches and restless legs syndrome.
Restrictions on treatment
An absolute contraindication to treatment with over-the-counter analogs of Pregabalin is individual intolerance to the active or excipient. Neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists do not prescribe them to patients when diagnosing them with the following pathologies:
- lack of lactase enzyme in the body;
- milk sugar intolerance;
- glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Some over-the-counter substitutes are not used if you have severe liver or kidney disease. The list of relative contraindications includes severe pathologies of the liver and kidneys, heart failure. Taking medications in childhood and adolescence is strictly prohibited. This is also true for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
A doctor will never prescribe structural analogues of Pregabalin to a person if his medical history contains evidence of previously identified drug dependence.
Drugs provoke addiction quite quickly. People get used to euphoria, lethargy, and drowsiness, so it is difficult for them to refuse the drug.
Treatment of addiction to Lyrica at the Alco-Center clinic works like this:
- At the first stage, upon admission to us, we take all the necessary tests, conduct examinations and develop an individual program.
- Next, we follow our scheme - we cleanse the body of pregabalin using a specially selected course of intensive therapy.
- We treat withdrawal symptoms with the help of antipsychotics, antidepressants and tranquilizers, which allows the patient to tolerate treatment comfortably.
- After cleansing the physical body, the patient undergoes a rehabilitation period. An antidepressant therapy regimen is selected for a period of 1-2 months in order to stop relapses of addiction to pregabalin.
- Psychotherapy according to an individual program. Psychologists and psychotherapists work with relatives (codependents) and patients, helping him solve his internal problems. Thus, they relieve the patient from the desire to forget himself in a narcotic dope, preparing the ground for life in sobriety and health.
Cost of treatment for addiction to Lyrica: 8000 / day - 5 days.
Our doctors have already accumulated vast experience in relieving people of drug addiction caused by the use of this drug . Call us and we guarantee you a successful treatment!
Current prescription analogues
Drugs from various clinical and pharmacological groups have similar therapeutic properties. When choosing a Pregabalin substitute, the doctor is guided by the prevalence of certain symptoms in the clinic. To treat fibromyalgia, you need one that can quickly eliminate acute pain. With high-quality analogues, the analgesic effect lasts for a day or more.
Other high-quality analogues, like Pregabalin, immediately stop an epileptic seizure. But their mechanism of action on the central nervous system is somewhat different. They block the transmission of impulses or have a direct effect on certain parts of the brain.
Gabapentin capsules
It is an anticonvulsant that is used to treat epilepsy as well as neuropathic pain. Gabapentin is similar in structure to aminobutyric acid, but it is not capable of blocking GABA receptors directly. An anticonvulsant is prescribed by doctors to patients with the following pathologies:
- focal seizures;
- resistant epilepsy;
- migraine;
- postherpetic neuralgia, alcoholic.
Gabapentin is sometimes used during natural menopause to relieve congestion in the face and upper body. Unlike Gabapentin, it does not provoke addiction or withdrawal symptoms and is used in pediatrics.
Finlepsin and Carbamazepine
Finlepsin and its domestic analog Carbamazepine are antiepileptic drugs. They exhibit pronounced analgesic, normothymic, antimanic and antidiuretic activity. The drugs reduce the release of glutamate, which has an stimulating effect. Therefore, they are in demand in the treatment of diseases complicated by anxiety, depression, irritability and aggressiveness:
- idiopathic neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal or trigeminal nerve;
- acute manic states;
- phasic affective disorders;
- alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Finlepsin and Carbamazepine do not have a wide list of contraindications. But due to their toxicity to the liver, treatment is carried out with constant monitoring of its functional indicators.
Depakin Chrono
Depakine Chrono is an anticonvulsant drug that has a central muscle relaxant and sedative effect. The active ingredient is valproic acid, which has a normothimic effect. Depakine Chrono is included in therapeutic regimens after diagnosing the following pathologies in adults and children:
- generalized epileptic seizures;
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome;
- partial epileptic seizure.
Depakine Chrono has a distinct advantage - its inability to cause physical and psychological addiction. Compliance with the recommendations of a neurologist, psychotherapist, orthopedist, and rheumatologist is required. But you need to take into account the lack of compatibility with alcohol and antipsychotics.
How to get off (quit) Lyrica
Today, this is a fairly pressing issue that worries a huge army of slaves who have become dependent on this medicine.
As with conventional drugs, addicts have to endure withdrawal pains. At the same time, they cannot stand it, and when they break down they become even more dependent on the drug.
If you or your loved ones have become dependent on pregabalin, then know that it is almost impossible to relieve withdrawal symptoms from pregabalin at home on your own. This requires an integrated approach to treatment in a drug treatment hospital.
At the Alco-Center clinic we can painlessly and safely relieve withdrawal symptoms in our patients. We work according to a comprehensive scheme developed by our specialists.
If you or people close to you have such problems, you are experiencing withdrawal from Lyrics , do not hesitate to contact us for help, call us and we will help you.
How to take medications correctly?
According to the instructions, over-the-counter Pregabalin substitutes should be used in accordance with the dosage regimen determined by the doctor. He calculates the required amount of drugs taking into account the type of pathology diagnosed, the severity and form of its course. The doctor must take into account the patient’s age and general state of health. For neuropathic pain and epilepsy, medications are used 1-3 capsules up to three times a day.
Capsules or tablets are swallowed whole with plenty of water. They should not be chewed, as most of the pregabalin will be destroyed by aggressive gastric juice. It is not recommended to take capsules on an empty stomach due to an excessive increase in the therapeutic concentration of the main component in the systemic circulation. If a dose is missed, both prescription and over-the-counter Pregabalin substitutes are taken as quickly as possible.
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.
Evaluating the performance of analogues
Despite the list of side effects of analogues, they are rarely observed in clinical practice. Pregabalin and substitutes are well tolerated and quickly improve the well-being of patients. They eliminate the most severe pain and reliably prevent epileptic seizures. The drugs are combined with all drugs with analgesic and anticonvulsant activity.
Pregabalin substitutes also include injection solutions of glucocorticosteroids - Triamcinolone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone. They are usually injected into the joint cavity for fibromyalgia. The pain disappears instantly, inflammatory processes stop, swelling subsides. But glucocorticosteroids have no less contraindications than Pregabalin.