Nonmedical use of Lyrica greatly amplifies the odds for a toxic overdose.
If a Lyrica overdose is suspected, seek immediate medical help.
Lyrica Basics
The active ingredient in Lyrica is pregabalin. The medication is an anticonvulsant tranquilizer that is commonly prescribed to treat nerve pain.
Lyrica is marketed as an alternative to opioid medications. Like opioid drugs, however, you can overdose on Lyrica, and it can be fatal without swift medical intervention.
Both mental and physical symptoms indicate an overdose. The risk of an overdose increases when Lyrica is mixed other drugs or when it is misused.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies Lyrica as a Schedule V controlled substance, which means that it does have documented potential for abuse. Lyrica may be misused by taking the medication outside of prescribed and recommended doses, without a prescription, or in a manner other than as prescribed, such as crushing the tablet and snorting the powder.
How Overdose Happens
The Medication Guide for Lyrica reports that the daily recommended dose of the drug is not to exceed 600 mg (milligrams). Doses higher than that may have toxic effects.
The World Health Organization publishes that pregabalin doses that are 25 times the daily recommended safe amount, or 15,000 mg, have been known to cause an overdose. The United Kingdom (UK) reported 111 deaths involving pregabalin in 2016.
Lyrica is also commonly mixed with other drugs, like opioids, to amplify their effects, the Pain News Network reports. Mixing Lyrica with other drugs raises the odds for experiencing an adverse negative reaction, which can be life-threatening.
The Emergency Medicine Journal publishes that 60 percent of patients seeking medical care in an emergency department (ED) for an adverse reaction involving recreational use of pregabalin presented with seizures, and 20 percent needed to be admitted to the ICU. Doses in these cases ranged from 500 mg to 1,400 mg of the drug.
Pregabalin Overdose Signs
Taking too much pregabalin means you have taken more than the standard or prescribed Lyrica dosage. When this happens, immediate medical help is necessary. Not everyone will experience overdose on this medication in the same way. However, common symptoms can alert you that an overdose on pregabalin has occurred.
Signs of a Lyrica overdose include:
- Mood swings or changes
- Tremors
- Sweating
- Mental confusion
- Feeling fatigued, drowsy, and tired
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Depression
- Irregular blood pressure and heart rate
- Difficulties breathing
- Possible loss of consciousness
While Lyrica has its therapeutic uses, it holds the potential for misuse and abuse like other drugs. When taking too much pregabalin happens, a person could also experience vision problems, twitching muscles, and trouble sleeping. They also could have swollen hands or feet and blisters or hives on their skin. These allergic reactions, which can affect the face, mouth, or throat, should receive prompt medical attention. A person dealing with pregabalin toxicity can also be at a higher risk of impaired judgment, injuring themselves in accidents, or thinking about suicide.
If any of these occur with a prescribed dosage, then it is important to alert a medical professional right away so that they can review it. You may need a lower dosage or another medication altogether. Medications come with side effects, but it is important to know what they are and which ones signal an overdose situation.
If another drug, such as an opioid, was taken as well, there may be additional side effects that are not listed here. When the medication is mixed with another drug, the toxic dosage can be much lower than what it would be if Lyrica were taken alone.
Most Lyrica overdoses are unintentional. Some people misuse or abuse pregabalin for its euphoric or relaxing effects. Using the drug for nonmedical purposes can result in dependence and addiction, which often make it hard to quit the drug. Going on and off Lyrica can keep the body in a state of imbalance. Overdose can occur if a person takes too much of the drug to feel the high they once did. It can also happen when a person goes back to using the drug after taking a break from it. Once use stops for a while, the body will attempt to regain stability. This means that a person could overdose on their usual dose because the body isn’t used to it anymore.
Some people abuse pregabalin and opioids together for the same reason — to achieve a state of euphoria or relaxation. But this, too, is dangerous and deadly. While the person may get the high they want, they also risk dying from an overdose. Opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin, and fentanyl, slow down the central nervous system. Depressed breathing is a major side effect of abusing mixing these substances together.
In December 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that pregabalin (Lyrica and Lyrica CR), along with gabapentinoids, serious, life-threatening, and fatal respiratory depression was reported after using these substances. A person with an existing respiratory condition, such as chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), and older adults are especially at risk, the FDA warns.
If the drug is used in a way other than intended — if it is crushed, chewed, or cut and then snorted, for instance — the odds for a toxic and potentially life-threatening overdose at even smaller amounts increase.
If you notice any out-of-character behaviors or any of the listed physical signs of an overdose, seek professional medical help right away.
Help for a Lyrica Overdose
The first thing to do in the event of a suspected Lyrica overdose is call 911.
An overdose on Lyrica can cause coma, brain damage, and even death. The faster help is received, the better.
While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, try and keep the person in a safe and quiet space and as calm as possible. Stay calm yourself and speak in soothing tones.
If the person is lying down, put them on their side. This can prevent them from potentially choking on their vomit.
Keep them from ingesting anything else or moving around too much if you can.
Mental confusion and unpredictable behaviors are common. Do your best to maintain your safety.
Attempt to find out as much information as you can regarding what the person took and how much they ingested.
The more information you have to give the first responders about the person’s Lyrica toxicity, the more likely it is that they will be able to reverse the side effects of the drug. When the paramedics arrive, give them the following information if you have it:
- Approximate age and weight of the person
- What drugs they took and at what dosage levels
- How the drug was taken (swallowed, snorted, smoked, or injected)
- If the person has a prescription for Lyrica
- Information on recent food and drink intake
- If the person struggles with any medical or mental health conditions
- All symptoms that were observed
- Any known history of drug abuse or addiction
- Any other information that may be pertinent
A Lyrica overdose often requires hospitalization and medical care. The faster a person receives medical attention for pregabalin overdose toxicity and the more information the medical personnel have, the better the potential outcome.
Reducing Overdose Risk
Misuse of Lyrica greatly raises the odds for a fatal overdose. The potential for an adverse reaction is amplified even more when the drug is mixed with alcohol or other mind-altering substances. Lyrica can interact with other medications as well.
To reduce the likelihood of an overdose, only use Lyrica according to the prescribed instructions. Do not mix Lyrica with alcohol or any other substance of abuse.
Lyrica and alcohol death can occur when using these substances together. This pairing can depress the central nervous system, slowing down a person’s breathing and their ability to stay aware so that they can think clearly. Decreased awareness, increased drowsiness, and dizziness are all symptoms that occur when drinking alcohol and taking this medication, which is not recommended. The sedative effects of both substances can be fatal.
If you think you might be witnessing an overdose of any kind, call 911 immediately.
Getting Help for Lyrica Addiction
While many drug overdoses are accidental, they are a sign that someone is taking too much of a substance, either knowingly or unknowingly. Either way, Lyrica overdose is a sign of dependence that must be addressed, especially if it happens regularly. If you notice increased nonmedical Lyrica use in yourself or a loved one, you should seek professional help at a facility that can help you address this matter, which is a health and safety issue.
There is help to end pregabalin abuse and addiction. Call us today so we can learn more about your or your loved one’s situation and review treatment options that can help you address pregabalin toxicity and addiction.
