Yes, Lyrica (pregabalin) can be misused and can cause physical dependence. It is a Schedule V controlled substance because some people feel a "high" or euphoria from it, and its FDA label warns that it may be habit-forming. Stopping should be done slowly with a prescriber, and treatment focuses on a safe taper plus counseling.
What Lyrica Is
Lyrica is the brand name for pregabalin, a medicine in the same family as gabapentin. MedlinePlus lists its uses as relieving nerve pain from diabetes, shingles and spinal cord injury, treating fibromyalgia, and helping control certain seizures. It works by calming overactive nerve signals.
Because it is a pain and seizure drug rather than a classic sedative, many people are surprised to learn it can be misused. For a closer look at that question, read Is Lyrica (Pregabalin) Addictive? If you are also concerned about gabapentin, see our guide to gabapentin addiction.
Why Pregabalin Is a Controlled Substance
The DEA placed pregabalin in Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act. In its scheduling decision, the DEA pointed to an unusually high rate of euphoria reported in clinical trials and concluded the drug was likely to be abused for those effects. Schedule V is the lowest tier, meaning the abuse potential is lower than drugs like Ambien or Soma, but it is not zero.
The Lyrica label backs this up:
- In clinical trials, more people on pregabalin reported euphoria than people on placebo.
- In a study of people who used sedatives recreationally, a single high dose produced "liking" and "high" ratings similar to diazepam.
- Symptoms after stopping are consistent with physical dependence.
The label tells prescribers to check for a history of drug misuse and watch for tolerance, dose increases and drug-seeking behavior. MedlinePlus advises patients not to take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it longer than prescribed.
Who Is Most at Risk
Anyone taking pregabalin long term can become dependent. The risk of misuse is higher for people who:
- Have a past or current problem with alcohol, street drugs or prescription drug overuse
- Use opioids, sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs at the same time
- Use pregabalin to cope with stress, anxiety or sleep problems rather than for its prescribed purpose
- Get pills from someone else or buy them without a prescription
Dependence is not the same as addiction. Someone can need a slow taper simply because their body has adjusted to the drug. Addiction adds compulsive use, loss of control and continued use despite harm. Both deserve medical help, and neither is a moral failing.
The Danger of Mixing Lyrica With Other Drugs
The FDA has warned that pregabalin and gabapentin can cause serious, even fatal, breathing problems. The risk is highest when they are combined with opioids or other central nervous system depressants, and in older adults or people with lung disease. Alcohol also adds to pregabalin's drowsiness, and MedlinePlus advises against drinking while taking it.
Call 911 if someone is very drowsy and hard to wake, confused, breathing slowly or shallowly, or has bluish lips or fingertips.
Warning Signs of Lyrica Misuse
- Taking more than prescribed, or taking it more often
- Running out early or seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor
- Seeming drowsy, dizzy, unsteady or unusually "high"
- Combining it with opioids, alcohol or sleeping pills
- Getting sick, anxious or unable to sleep when a dose is late
- New or worsening depression, anxiety or agitation
Like other seizure medicines, pregabalin carries a warning about suicidal thoughts, including after stopping. If you or someone close to you is thinking about self-harm, call or text 988.
Talk with an independent helpline about detox and rehab options and what your insurance covers. Available 24/7.
Call 866-521-4950How to Stop Lyrica Safely
Do not stop Lyrica suddenly without talking to your prescriber, especially after long-term or high-dose use. The FDA label says to taper the drug gradually over a minimum of one week rather than stopping all at once. People with seizure disorders face extra risk, because stopping abruptly can trigger more seizures.
The label lists symptoms reported after stopping, including:
- Trouble sleeping
- Nausea and diarrhea
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Heavy sweating
| Taper phase | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Planning | Your prescriber reviews your dose, how long you have taken it, and any other drugs or alcohol you use |
| Gradual reduction | The dose is lowered in steps over at least one week; long-term users often need longer |
| Symptom check-ins | Sleep, anxiety, pain and mood are tracked, and the pace is adjusted if needed |
| After the taper | Counseling and other pain or anxiety treatment help prevent a return to use |
Your prescriber sets the schedule; do not change doses on your own. Our Lyrica taper schedule guide explains how pregabalin is usually tapered, and Lyrica withdrawal covers symptoms and timing in more detail.
Treatment Options for Lyrica Addiction
There is no medication approved specifically to treat pregabalin misuse. NIDA's guidance for sedative-type drug dependence fits well here: do not quit alone, use a medically supervised taper, and follow it with counseling. When more than one substance is involved, all of them should be treated together.
Medical detox
A detox program tapers the dose under medical watch, manages sleep problems and anxiety, and keeps an eye out for seizures. This is the safest setting for people on high doses or mixing pregabalin with alcohol or other sedatives. Many sleeping pill and sedative detox programs handle pregabalin tapers.
Rehab and therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy to manage cravings, stress and triggers
- Pain management for the nerve pain or fibromyalgia that often led to the prescription
- Mental health care for anxiety, depression or insomnia
- Family involvement so loved ones can support recovery
Levels of care
Options include outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization several days a week, and residential rehab for people with heavy use, mixed drug use or past relapses.
Finding Treatment Near You
Pregabalin dependence is usually treated by programs that also care for sleeping pill and sedative problems. Start with our national sedative and sleeping pill rehab directory, or the Adderall rehab directory if stimulants are also part of the picture.
You can browse state pages such as Ohio or Arizona, or city pages like Phoenix and Houston. Our insurance guides explain how to check your benefits. SAMHSA also runs a free, confidential national helpline, open 24/7, for treatment referrals.
Sources
- Lyrica and Lyrica CR (pregabalin) Prescribing Information (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Pregabalin Into Schedule V (Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Register)
- Pregabalin (MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine)
- Serious Breathing Difficulty Risk with Gabapentinoids (FDA Drug Safety Communication summary) (Indian Health Service)
- How Can Prescription Drug Addiction Be Treated? (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
- SAMHSA's National Helpline (SAMHSA)
Free, confidential help finding treatment. Independent helpline, 24/7.
Call 866-521-4950Related guides
- Adderall Addiction: Signs, Risks and Treatment Options
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- Gabapentin Addiction: Misuse, Risks and Treatment Options
- Soma and Muscle Relaxer Addiction: Risks and Treatment
- Sleeping Pill Withdrawal: Symptoms, Risks and Timeline
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