Is Lyrica (Pregabalin) Addictive?

Yes, Lyrica (pregabalin) can be habit-forming. It is a Schedule V controlled substance because some people feel euphoric or "high" on it, and people who take it daily can become physically dependent and have withdrawal if they stop suddenly. Most people who take it as prescribed for pain or seizures do not develop an addiction, but the risk is real, especially for anyone with a history of substance use.

What Lyrica Is

Lyrica is the brand name for pregabalin. It treats nerve pain from diabetes, shingles and spinal cord injury, fibromyalgia, and certain kinds of seizures. It belongs to the same family as gabapentin, and the two are often called gabapentinoids. Pregabalin calms overactive nerve signals, which is how it eases pain, but that same calming effect is part of why some people misuse it.

MedlinePlus states plainly that pregabalin may be habit-forming and advises patients not to take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for longer than prescribed.

Why Pregabalin Is a Controlled Substance

The DEA placed pregabalin in Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act. In its scheduling decision, the agency pointed to an unusually high rate of euphoria reported during clinical trials and concluded the drug had potential to be abused for those effects.

Schedule V is the lowest tier of controlled substances. That means federal regulators consider pregabalin's abuse potential lower than Schedule IV drugs like Ambien or Soma, but not zero. Gabapentin, by contrast, is not federally controlled at all. If you want to compare the two, see Is gabapentin addictive?

What the FDA Label Says

The Lyrica prescribing information gives some of the clearest evidence on this question:

• Euphoria in trials: Across more than 5,500 patients in controlled studies, euphoria was reported by about 4% of people on pregabalin versus about 1% on placebo. In some groups the rate was as high as 12%.
• Comparison to diazepam: In a study of people who used sedatives recreationally, a single 450 mg dose of pregabalin produced "high" and "liking" ratings similar to a 30 mg dose of diazepam (Valium).
• Physical dependence: Stopping abruptly or quickly caused insomnia, nausea, headache or diarrhea in some patients, which the label says is consistent with physical dependence.
• Other reports after stopping: Seizures, depression, suicidal thoughts, agitation, confusion, sweating, tremor and malaise have been reported.

The label tells prescribers to check every patient for a history of drug misuse and to watch for signs like tolerance, dose escalation and drug-seeking.

Dependence vs. Addiction

These two words are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things:

Neither is a moral failing, and both deserve medical support.

Who Is Most at Risk

Your risk of misuse and addiction is higher if you:

• Have a current or past problem with opioids, alcohol, sedatives or other drugs
• Use pregabalin to manage stress, anxiety or sleep rather than pain or seizures
• Take it together with opioids, sleeping pills or anti-anxiety medicines
• Have raised your dose on your own because it seems to work less well
• Get pills from someone else or without a prescription

MedlinePlus asks patients to tell their doctor if they drink large amounts of alcohol, have used street drugs, or have overused prescription medicines before starting pregabalin.

The Danger of Mixing Lyrica With Other Drugs

The FDA has warned that gabapentinoids, including pregabalin, can cause serious and even fatal breathing problems when combined with opioids or other central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines. People with lung disease and older adults face higher risk. The FDA also noted that misuse of these drugs together with opioids has been growing. Alcohol adds to pregabalin's drowsiness, and MedlinePlus advises avoiding it.

Call 911 if someone on pregabalin is extremely sleepy or hard to wake, confused, breathing slowly or shallowly, or has bluish lips or skin.

Warning Signs of Lyrica Misuse

• Taking extra doses or running out early
• Seeing more than one prescriber or buying pills online
• Seeming dizzy, unsteady, slurred or unusually upbeat
• Using it with alcohol, opioids or sleeping pills
• Feeling sick, anxious or unable to sleep when a dose is late
• New or worsening depression, irritability or agitation

Pregabalin, like other seizure medicines, carries a warning about suicidal thoughts, including after it is stopped. If you or someone you love is thinking about self-harm, call or text 988. For a broader list of red flags, our page on Lyrica addiction goes further.

How to Stop Lyrica Safely

Do not stop pregabalin suddenly, especially after long-term or high-dose use, without your prescriber. The FDA label says to taper it gradually over a minimum of one week rather than stopping all at once. People with seizure disorders face extra risk, because stopping quickly can bring on seizures. Long-term or high-dose users often need a slower plan.

Your prescriber sets the schedule and adjusts it based on how you feel. Do not change your dose on your own. Our Lyrica taper schedule guide explains how pregabalin is usually tapered, and Lyrica withdrawal covers symptoms and timing.

What Treatment Looks Like

There is no medication approved specifically for pregabalin addiction. NIDA's guidance for sedative-type drug dependence fits: do not quit alone, use a medically supervised taper, and follow it with counseling. When alcohol or other drugs are involved, all of them should be treated together.

• Medical detox manages the taper with monitoring for seizures, insomnia and anxiety. Many sedative and sleeping pill detox programs handle pregabalin.
• Counseling, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, helps with cravings, triggers and stress.
• Pain management addresses the nerve pain or fibromyalgia that led to the prescription so it does not drive a return to use.

Finding Help

Our sedative and sleeping pill rehab directory lists programs that treat pregabalin dependence. You can browse a state page such as Florida or a city page like Orlando or detox in Atlanta. Our insurance guides explain how to check your benefits before you call.

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)
• Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant (gabapentin) and Lyrica, Lyrica CR (pregabalin): Drug Safety Communication - Serious Breathing Problems (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• How Can Prescription Drug Addiction Be Treated? (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Related guides

• Adderall Addiction: Signs, Risks and Treatment Options
• Ambien Addiction: Signs, Risks and Treatment Options
• Lunesta and Sonata Addiction: Risks and Treatment
• Gabapentin Addiction: Misuse, Risks and Treatment Options
• Lyrica (Pregabalin) Addiction: Risks and Treatment Options
• Soma and Muscle Relaxer Addiction: Risks and Treatment

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