Based on the experience of clinical use of pregabalin in more than 12000 patients, the most common adverse events were dizziness and drowsiness. The observed phenomena were usually mild and moderate.The frequency of cancellation of pregabalin and placebo due to adverse reactions was 14% and 7%, respectively.
Dizziness (4%) and drowsiness (3%), depending on their subjective tolerance, were the main undesirable effects that required discontinuation of treatment.
Other side effects that also lead to drug cancellation: ataxia, confusion, asthenia, impaired attention, blurred vision, impaired coordination, peripheral edema.
Against the background of therapy of central neuropathic pain associated with damage to the spinal cord, there is an increase in the incidence of adverse reactions in general, as well as adverse reactions from the central nervous system, in particular, drowsiness.
The incidence of side effects is classified according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization: very often (≥ 10%), often (≥ 1%, <10%), infrequently (≥ 0.1%, <1%), rarely (≥ 0.01% , <0.1%), very rarely (<0.01%); frequency is unknown (according to available data, it is not possible to establish the frequency of occurrence).
Infectious diseases: often - nasopharyngitis.
Violations of the blood and lymphatic system: infrequently - neutropenia.
Immune system disorders: infrequently - hypersensitivity reactions *; rarely - angioedema, * allergic reactions *.
Disorders from the metabolism and nutrition: often - increased appetite; infrequently - anorexia, hypoglycemia.
Disorders of the psyche: often - a state of euphoria, confusion, irritability, disorientation, insomnia, decreased libido; infrequently - hallucinations, panic attack, anxiety, agitation, depression, depressed mood, high spirits, mood swings, aggression *, depersonalization, difficulty with the selection of words, anxious dreams, increased libido, anorgasmia, apathy; rarely - disinhibition.
Disturbances from the nervous system: very often - dizziness, drowsiness, headache; often - ataxia, impaired coordination, tremor, dysarthria, amnesia, memory impairment, attention impairment, paresthesia, hypesthesia, sedation, imbalance, lethargy; infrequent states, stupor, myoclonia, loss of consciousness *, psychomotor agitation, dyskinesia, orthostatic dizziness, intentional tremor, nystagmus, cognitive impairment,mental disorders *, speech impairment, weakening of reflexes, hyperesthesia, agevzia (loss of taste sensations), burning sensation on the mucous membranes and skin; rarely - convulsions *, parosmia, hypokinesia, dysgraphy.
Disturbances on the part of the organ of sight: often - blurred vision, diplopia; infrequent - loss of peripheral vision, visual impairment, eye swelling, visual field defect, visual acuity, eye pain, asthenopia, photopsy, dry eyes, increased lacrimation, irritation of the eye mucosa; rarely - oscilloscopy (subjective sensation of fluctuations in the subjects under consideration), change in the depth of visual perception, mydriasis, strabismus, increased brightness of visual perception, keratitis *, loss of vision *.
Hearing disorders and labyrinthine disorders: often - vertigo; infrequently - a hyperacusis.
Heart Disease: infrequently - tachycardia, atrioventricular block of the I degree, sinus bradycardia, chronic heart failure *; rarely - sinus tachycardia, sinus arrhythmia, prolongation of the QT interval *.
Vascular disorders: infrequently - hypotension, hypertension, skin hyperemia, "hot flashes", cold extremities.
Disturbances from the respiratory system, chest and mediastinal organs: infrequently - shortness of breath, nosebleed, cough, nasal congestion, rhinitis, snoring, dryness of the nasal mucosa; rarely - a feeling of tightness in the throat, pulmonary edema *.
Disorders from the gastrointestinal tract: often - nausea *, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea *, flatulence, bloating, dryness of the oral mucosa; infrequently - gastroesophageal reflux, hypersecretion of the salivary glands, decreased sensitivity of the oral mucosa; rarely - ascites, pancreatitis, edema of the tongue *, dysphagia.
Disturbances from the skin and subcutaneous tissues: infrequently - papular rash, urticaria, increased sweating, skin itch *; rarely - Stevens-Johnson syndrome *, cold sweat.
Disturbances from musculoskeletal system and connective tissue: often - muscle cramps, arthralgia, back pain, pain in the limbs, spasm of the muscles of the cervical spine; infrequently - swelling of the joint, myalgia, muscle cramps, pain in the neck, stiffness of the muscles; rarely rhabdomyolysis.
Disorders from the kidneys and urinary tract: infrequent - urinary incontinence, dysuria; rarely - renal failure, oliguria, urinary retention *.
Disorders from the reproductive system: often - erectile dysfunction; infrequently - sexual dysfunction, delay of ejaculation, dysmenorrhea, pain in the area of the mammary glands; rarely - amenorrhea, discharge from the mammary glands, enlargement of mammary glands, gynecomastia *.
General disorders and disorders at the site of administration: Often - peripheral edema, impaired gait, falling, feeling drunk, malaise, fatigue; rare - generalized edema, face edema *, chest tightness, pain, fever, thirst, fever, general weakness, malaise *.
Laboratory and instrumental dataFrequently - weight gain, infrequently - hypercreatininemia, increased activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, increase the concentration of glucose in the blood, decreased platelet count, hypokalemia, weight loss; rarely - a decrease in the content of leukocytes in the blood.
* - adverse reactions observed during the post-marketing use of the drug.
After discontinuation of short-term and prolonged treatment with pregabalin, some patients had withdrawal symptoms.
The following undesirable reactions were noted: insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like syndrome, convulsions, increased excitability, depression, pain, hyperhidrosis, dizziness.
Patients should be informed of possible withdrawal symptoms before starting therapy.
The available data indicate that in the case of cancellation of prolonged treatment with pregabalin, the incidence and severity of withdrawal symptoms may depend on the dose of the drug.