Pregabalin by Ray Sahelian, M.D.  Pregabalin goes by the product name Lyrica

 Pregabalin affects chemicals and nerves in the body that are involved in the cause of seizures and some types of pain. Pregabalin is a medicine designed specifically to relieve common types of nerve pain such as diabetic nerve pain and pain after shingles. Developed by Pfizer, pregabalin, marketed under the brand name Lyrica, is a 3-substituted analogue of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and a compound related to Pfizer's hugely successful antiepileptic drug gabapentin (Neurontin).

Pregabalin for Diabetic Neuropathy

Pregabalin is prescribed for diabetic neuropathy (pain from damaged nerves that happen with diabetes).

Prgabalin for fibromyalgia
The anticonvulsant pregabalin may help reduce pain in some patients with fibromyalgia. Dr. Leslie Crofford at the University of Kentucky, Lexington studied outcomes in 566 patients who had been randomized to receive either pregabalin or placebo during a 26-week double-blind phase of the FREEDOM (Fibromyalgia Relapse Evaluation and Efficacy for Durability of Meaningful Relief) trial. All subjects had responded to pregabalin during a 6-week open-label phase with at least a 50% reduction in mean pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score from baseline and a Patient Global Impression of Change rating of at least "much improved." At the end of the randomized phase during which they received an optimized open-label pregabalin dose of 300 mg/d, 450 mg/d, 600 mg/d, or placebo, 61% of patients on placebo had lost their therapeutic response observed during the open-label phase compared with 32% of patients on pregabalin. Dr. Crofford said. During the double-blind phase of the trial, 62% of pregabalin patients reported an adverse event versus 45% of placebo patients. Overall, 82% of adverse events were mild or moderate. Serious events occurred in seven pregabalin and three placebo patients. Dr. Leslie Crofford believes pregabalin is helpful for fibromyalgia.
   My comments: I think natural options should be tried first for fibromyalgia before resorting to prescription medications.
 

Pregabalin Mechanism of Action
The exact way that it works is not well known.

Pregabalin for Seizures
Pregabalin is used with other drugs in the treatment of some types of seizures.

Pregabalin and Post Herpetic Neuralgia

Pregabalin is used for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain caused by the herpes virus or shingles).

Anxiety Disorder

Pregabalin may have similar efficacy to the benzodiazepines and venlafaxine.

Alcohol Detoxification

Pregabalin may be a therapeutic agent for medical management of alcohol detoxification.

Pregabalin Questions

Q. I am suffering from diabetes since 1995. I am on tablets. From Dec 2005 I had developed with diabetic neuropathy problem. My family doctor  gave me Pregabalin 75 mg. From January 2006 my penis getting thinner and when erection time my penis is having abnormal bend. Therefore my penis is not straight to do intercourse. I have a difficulty to do the intercourse. Do you thing this problem is due to the Diabetic neuropathy or Pregabalin?
   A. Diabetic neuropathy can cause impotence or erectile dysfunction. I am not sure yet of the side effects of Pregabalin to know whether impotence or abnormal curvature of the penis is a Pregabalin side effect.