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Pregabalin is a medication used to treat nerve pain, seizures, and anxiety disorders. It is believed to block abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures and slows down their spread. While pregabalin can be effective, it may also cause several side effects, one of which is muscle problems. This can include muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness, known as myopathy, and in rare cases, muscle breakdown or rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney damage and even death. Additionally, pregabalin has been associated with negative myoclonus (NM), a jerky, involuntary movement caused by a sudden interruption of muscle contraction, leading to postural lapses, dropping objects, and gait instability. If you experience any muscle-related issues while taking pregabalin, it is important to consult your doctor immediately.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common side effects | Myasthenia, muscle cramp, arthralgia, back pain, pain in limb, cervical spasm, leg cramps |
| Uncommon side effects | Joint swelling, myalgia, muscle twitching, neck pain, muscle stiffness, neck rigidity, arthrosis |
| Rare side effects | Rhabdomyolysis, chondrodystrophy, generalized spasm, angioedema, heart failure, renal failure |
| Very common side effects | Visual field changes |
| Other side effects | Dizziness, sleepiness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, weight gain, fluid retention, nausea, vomiting, abnormal dreams, suicidal thoughts, agitation, irritability, trouble sleeping, seizures, diarrhoea, headaches, negative myoclonus, involuntary movements, disturbance of consciousness, breathing problems, skin problems, low platelet levels, heart rhythm changes |
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What You'll Learn
- Pregabalin may cause muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness
- Negative myoclonus (NM) is a side effect, causing jerky, involuntary movements
- Pregabalin can cause cervical spasms and muscle twitching
- It may also cause breathing problems, especially alongside opioids
- Pregabalin may cause serious allergic reactions, including angioedema
Pregabalin may cause muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness
Pregabalin is a drug used to treat nerve pain, seizures, and anxiety disorders. It is believed that pregabalin blocks abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures, which slows down the spread of seizures. However, it is important to note that pregabalin may cause some unwanted effects along with its intended effects.
Pregabalin may cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness. This is a serious side effect and is called myopathy. Myopathy is a serious muscle problem that may be indicated by unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with a fever. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
In some people, pregabalin can cause negative myoclonus (NM), which is a jerky, shock-like involuntary movement caused by a sudden, brief interruption of muscle contraction. This can lead to sudden postural lapses, dropping objects from hands, difficulties in writing and feeding, head nodding, gait instability, and falls. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
Additionally, pregabalin may cause muscle breakdown, also known as rhabdomyolysis, which can be severe and rarely lead to kidney damage and death. If you experience any symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, stop taking pregabalin and seek immediate medical help. It is important to be vigilant about any muscle-related symptoms while taking pregabalin and to consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
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Negative myoclonus (NM) is a side effect, causing jerky, involuntary movements
Pregabalin is a drug used to treat nerve pain, neuralgia, and anxiety disorders. It is also used as an adjunctive therapy for focal epilepsy. One of the side effects of pregabalin is negative myoclonus (NM), which is characterised by jerky, involuntary movements caused by a sudden and brief interruption of muscle contraction. This can lead to sudden postural lapses, such as dropping objects from the hands, difficulties in writing and feeding, head nodding, and gait instability, which may result in falls.
NM typically occurs in patients during certain specific postures, such as when raising their arms forward or holding their neck in an upright position, and it does not occur at rest. If NM occurs in the axial or leg muscles, it can cause an unsteady gait and stance due to repetitive loss of muscle tone. In one case, an 80-year-old man presented with multifocal NM and confusion after starting a pregabalin intake of 150 mg/day for neuropathic pain. His NM resolved completely and his mental status improved after the discontinuation of pregabalin and the administration of lorazepam intravenously.
It is important to note that pregabalin can also cause other muscle problems, such as muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness, which may indicate myopathy, a serious muscle condition. In some cases, the muscle may break down, leading to rhabdomyolysis, which can be life-threatening as it can cause kidney damage and even death. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical attention if any muscle-related symptoms occur while taking pregabalin.
Additionally, pregabalin may cause other serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts or behaviours, severely low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia), breathing problems, fluid retention and weight gain, blurred vision, and disturbance of consciousness and involuntary movements. It can also lead to severe allergic reactions, such as angioedema, which can cause swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat and may require immediate medical attention if breathing difficulties arise.
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Pregabalin can cause cervical spasms and muscle twitching
Pregabalin is a drug used to treat nerve pain, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders. It is believed that pregabalin blocks abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures. It is available as Lyrica, Lyrica CR, and generic pregabalin.
Pregabalin may cause cervical spasms and muscle twitching. It can also cause negative myoclonus (NM), which is a jerky, shock-like involuntary movement caused by a sudden, brief interruption of muscle contraction. This can lead to sudden postural lapses, dropping objects from hands, difficulties in writing and feeding, head nodding, gait instability, and falls. In one case, an 80-year-old man presented with multifocal NM and confusion after starting a dose of 150 mg/day of pregabalin. His NM resolved completely and his mental status improved after the administration of lorazepam and the discontinuation of pregabalin.
Another case reported a 91-year-old man with chronic low-back pain who experienced disturbance of consciousness and myoclonus of all his extremities and face after taking pregabalin for three days. His symptoms disappeared after he discontinued pregabalin and was administered benzodiazepine.
Pregabalin may also cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness called myopathy. In some people, the muscle may break down
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It may also cause breathing problems, especially alongside opioids
Pregabalin may cause breathing problems, especially when taken with opioids. It can lead to slow or shallow breathing, and this risk is heightened if you are already taking another medicine that slows breathing, such as opioid medicines like codeine or oxycodone. If you are already experiencing breathing problems, pregabalin may exacerbate them.
It is important to be vigilant about any changes in your breathing when starting pregabalin or adjusting your dosage. If you develop severe sleepiness or trouble breathing, you must inform your healthcare provider, especially when you are new to the medication or have recently had a dosage increase. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical help:
- Severe sleepiness
- Trouble breathing
Pregabalin is a powerful medication that can have serious side effects, and it is important to be aware of these and monitor your health when taking it. Do not stop taking pregabalin suddenly without first consulting your doctor, as this may cause seizures or other side effects. Always follow the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider regarding this medication and be sure to inform them of any other medications you are taking, especially those that affect the central nervous system (CNS).
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Pregabalin may cause serious allergic reactions, including angioedema
Pregabalin is a medicine used to control seizures, treat nerve pain, and manage fibromyalgia. It is also used as an adjunctive therapy for focal epilepsy, neuropathic pain, neuralgia, and anxiety disorders. While pregabalin can be effective in treating these conditions, it is important to be aware of its potential side effects, which can sometimes be serious.
One of the most concerning side effects of pregabalin is the risk of severe allergic reactions, including angioedema. Angioedema is a life-threatening condition characterized by the swelling and buildup of fluid under the skin, typically in the facial or genital area. It can cause difficulty breathing and requires immediate medical attention. Other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to pregabalin include hives or blisters on the skin, itching, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, and swelling in the face, mouth, or throat.
If you experience any of these symptoms after taking pregabalin, it is crucial to stop taking the medication and seek emergency medical help immediately. Do not wait or try to manage the symptoms at home, as these reactions can be life-threatening. Additionally, inform your doctor about any allergies you may have and discuss the risks and benefits of taking pregabalin if you are prone to allergic reactions.
It is worth noting that pregabalin has also been associated with other side effects, such as muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, which may indicate a serious muscle problem called myopathy. Respiratory depression, a serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening, has also been reported with pregabalin use, especially when taken with narcotic pain medicines. Other common side effects include dizziness, blurred vision, clumsiness, unsteadiness, drowsiness, and trouble with thinking.
Therefore, it is crucial to be vigilant about any changes in your body when taking pregabalin and to seek medical advice if you experience any unusual symptoms. Your doctor may advise regular check-ups, especially during the first few months of taking pregabalin, to monitor your progress and adjust the dosage as needed.
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Frequently asked questions
Pregabalin, also known as Lyrica, is a prescription drug used to treat nerve pain, seizures, and anxiety disorders.
Yes, pregabalin has been associated with negative myoclonus (NM), a jerky, shock-like involuntary movement caused by a sudden, brief interruption of muscle contraction. It can also cause positive myoclonus, which is characterized by sudden bursts of muscle contractions and subsequent relaxation.
If you experience muscle spasms or any other side effects while taking pregabalin, you should consult your doctor immediately. They may recommend discontinuing the medication and administering an alternative treatment to resolve the muscle spasms.
