Side effects
Some side effects that appear should get better after a few days. If they do not, you should go back to your doctor.
Don't stop taking the medicine until you talk to your doctor, or you may get withdrawal symptoms as well.
Very common side effects from taking pregabalin (affecting more than one in ten people) include:
- dizziness
- feeling sleepy
- headache
Common side effects of taking pregabalin (affecting up to one in ten people) include:
- increased appetite
- weight gain
- feeling very happy
- feeling confused or disorientated
- less interest in having sex, and difficulty getting an erection
- feeling irritable, odd (not like your normal self), clumsy and tired
- difficulty paying attention to things
- forgetting things
- tremor (shaking)
- speaking problems
- feeling drunk or walking in a strange way
- tingling or numb feelings
- having trouble sleeping
- blurred vision, double vision
- vertigo (feeling like things around you are moving or spinning, when they are not)
- problems with balance, which may lead to falls
- dry mouth or sore throat
- constipation (difficulty having a poo) and passing extra wind
- feeling sick and being sick
- having a bloated or swollen gut
- swelling of the body, including fingers and toes
- muscle cramps, joint pains, back pain, pain in arms and legs
There are other side effects that you can get when taking this medicine – we have only included the most common ones here.
Please look at the leaflet inside your medicine box, or ask a doctor or pharmacist, if you want to know whether you are getting a side effect from your medicine.
If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it via the Yellow Card Scheme.
Body
A side effect of pregabalin may be an increased appetite and weight gain.
Talk to your doctor about this if it worries you.
Young people with diabetes who put weight on during treatment with pregabalin may need to change their diabetes medicine dose. See your doctor if this applies to you.
Sleep
Pregabalin may make it difficult for you to get to sleep when you start taking it, and you may have strange dreams.
It can also make you feel very sleepy.
See how it affects you in the first few days. If you feel like a zombie and it is not getting better, go back to your doctor.
Sex and fertility
Sex
Pregabalin can have side effects that might affect your sex life. These include:
- loss of interest in sex
- difficulty getting an erection
- changes in periods, either being heavy and painful or stopping altogether
- breast pain or slight breast growth, regardless of gender
These effects should pass after the first couple of weeks. If they do not, and this is a problem for you, go back to the doctor and see what else you could try.
The good effects of pregabalin may have a positive impact on your sex life as your symptoms settle and you can concentrate on your relationships.
Fertility
There is nothing to suggest that pregabalin causes any problems with fertility
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
Pregabalin is not seen as a major problem in terms of fertility, but two studies show a slight increase in the risk of malformations. The risk seems to be about 16% higher but is affected by any other medicines you may be taking.
If you do become pregnant while you are on pregabalin, you should carry on taking the medicine and go back to your doctor as soon as possible, to see if you should stop or change your medicine.
If you and your partner are trying to have a baby, you should go back to the doctor to see if you need a different medicine.
If you and your doctor agree that you will carry on taking pregabalin, you should tell your midwife that you are taking it as well.
Breastfeeding
Pregabalin is passed in small amounts to the baby through breast milk. There should be no reason why you can’t breastfeed if you have a healthy full-term baby.
Please talk to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist if you want to breastfeed while taking pregabalin.
Driving and transport
Taking pregabalin may make you feel tired or dizzy, and may affect your eyesight and balance when you start taking it.
This could affect you if you drive a car, ride a bike, or do anything else that needs a lot of focus or good balance. It might be best to stop doing these things for the first few days, until you know how it affects you.
Do not worry - most people do these things as normal while taking pregabalin.
School and exams
Try not to take pregabalin for the first time just before your exams.
Taking pregabalin may make you feel tired or dizzy, and may affect your eyesight and your memory when you start taking it.
You should talk to your doctor about any future exams if you are starting pregabalin.
You might decide together to delay starting it until you have done them.
If they are more than a month away, however, you might find that it is better to start pregabalin to improve your motivation to study.
Do not worry - most people take exams as normal while taking pregabalin.
Friends and family
You may want to let your family and friends know you are taking pregabalin so they can support you and help you look out for side effects.
For guidance on this, check out our page on getting support with your medication.
Sport
Pregabalin is not a banned substance in sport.
However, it can affect your vision, your concentration and your balance.
This could cause problems in sports like gymnastics and cycling.
Do not play sports that need a lot of focus and balance until you see how pregabalin affects you.
Do not worry - most people play sports as normal while taking pregabalin.
Alcohol and street drugs
Alcohol
You can continue to drink alcohol while taking pregabalin, but having the two together might make you very sleepy.
So, during the first few days, it might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.
If you want to drink alcohol, remember that you might be sleepy and make sure you can get home safely.
Street drugs
We do not know how pregabalin mixes with street drugs.
It will probably make the drowsy effect of any other drug worse.
Pregabalin can be misused. Do not pass on your medicines to anyone else.
Prescription medicines
Pregabalin mixes well with most other medicines, but always talk to the doctor if you are taking other medicines with pregabalin.
Tell the pharmacist you are taking pregabalin if you buy medicines (including things you put on your skin) for common illnesses.
References and further reading
For more helpful links and information, have a look at our references and further reading page.