Lyrica (LEER-ih-kah) is the brand name used in the United States and some other countries for the seizure medicine pregabalin (pree-GABA-lin).

Lyrica is similar in structure to one of the major chemical neurotransmitters in the human brain, GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid). GABA is the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter—that is, it prevents nerve cells in the brain from firing too quickly, as they do in seizures. As it turns out, however, Lyrica does not act like GABA in the brain.

Lyrica was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005.

Forms

Lyrica is sold in the United States by Pfizer Inc. The name or appearance may differ in other places. These descriptions apply to the U.S. versions:

Sprinkle capsules

	25-mg (white, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 25” on the body
	50-mg (white and with navy stripe, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 50” on the body
	75-mg (orange/white, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 75” on the body
	100-mg (orange, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 100” on the body
	150-mg (white, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 150” on the body
	200-mg (light orange, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 200” on the body
	225-mg (white/light orange,hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 225” on the body
	300-mg (white/orange, hard-gelatin) Capsules with “Pfizer” on the cap, “PGN 300” on the body

How to take and store Lyrica

Follow your doctor’s directions. Call if you have any questions. Lyrica usually needs to be taken two or three times a day.>/p>

It's OK to take Lyrica either with food or without food, but it’s best to be consistent day after day. Swallow the capsules whole. As the doctor increases the amount of Lyrica that you take, you may be prescribed a higher-strength capsule. Be careful! For example, if you've been using 150-mg capsules and the new prescription is for 300-mg capsules, be careful to use the correct number of capsules. Don't automatically continue to use the same number of capsules as before.

Store the capsules at room temperature, away from dampness. Keep Lyrica out of the reach of children.

Take only the amount that your doctor tells you to take. If you think you've taken one extra capsule, call the doctor for advice. For a larger overdose, call the poison control center or your hospital's emergency room unless you have special instructions from the doctor. The very few people who have taken large doses have all recovered, with appropriate medical care.

Don't stop taking Lyrica or change the amount you take without talking to your doctor first. Stopping any seizure medicine all at once can cause serious problems. The package insert states that discontinuation of Lyrica should be done gradually over a minimum of one week.

What if I forget?

In general, if you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, you should delay that dose for a few hours, instead of taking two doses very close together. If you’re not sure what to do, call the doctor’s office for more advice.

Do your best to follow the doctor's directions. The more capsules that must be taken, the greater the chance of forgetting. If you forget doses often, it may be a good idea to get a special pillbox or watch with an alarm to remind you.

Taking the right amount of seizure medicine on time every single day is the most important step in preventing seizures!