What is pregabalin?
Pregabalin is a medication usually taken by people with epilepsy or neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain results from damage or disease affecting nerves. Neuropathic pain may not respond to traditional pain medications. In such cases, pregabalin can provide important relief from pain that has not responded to normal pain treatments.
Pregabalin is also sometimes prescribed for other conditions including fibromyalgia, non-neuropathic pain, anxiety, insomnia, panic disorder and alcohol withdrawal; however, pregabalin is not subsidised for use in these conditions and they are not currently included in the approved product information sheet.
Leading independent drug research, policy and education organisation Penington Institute is calling for state and federal government action to help reduce the number of overdose deaths resulting from the misuse of pregabalin (sold under the brand name Lyrica®).
Since 2013, the use of pregabalin has skyrocketed. PBS figures report that in 2017/18 there were 3.75 million prescriptions for pregabalin, at a cost to the PBS of $133 million.
Penington Institute’s Dr Rose Crossin said that pregabalin was an important medication, but with a sharp downside.
“While pregabalin is an effective, non-opioid treatment for neuropathic pain, it also has the potential for misuse, including being misused to increase the effects of other drugs such as pharmaceutical opioids and heroin,” Dr Crossin said.
“Recent Australian studies have shown a significant increase in pregabalin prescribing, misuse, and harms.
“People at high risk of harms include those using pregabalin with other sedatives as well as those with a history of mental health issues or of suicidal thoughts or behaviours, and people who have substance use disorders (i.e. a dependency on alcohol or other drugs),” she said.
“A recent NSW study estimated that 86,000 people were high-risk users of pregabalin in 2016, Australia needs to take strong action to help keep people safer, including interventions targeted at vulnerable groups,” said Dr Crossin.
“In addition, a recent Queensland coronial study of pregabalin-related deaths reported evidence that pregabalin use is common among people who inject drugs.”
Penington Institute staff have received anecdotal reports indicating problematic use is becoming more common, including amongst people who inject drugs. A worker in a regional health service said: “I have seen an increase in the problematic use of pregabalin among young people. The problem with pregabalin is usually found in combination with other medicines like benzos [benzodiazepines] which are very popular drugs among our youth.”
