Instructions Lyrica capsules 150 mg No. 14
Composition
active ingredient: pregabalin;
1 capsule contains 50 mg, 75 mg, 150 mg or 300 mg of pregabalin;
excipients: lactose monohydrate; corn starch; talc; capsule shell: gelatin, water, titanium dioxide (E 171), sodium lauryl sulfate, colloidal anhydrous silica, red iron oxide (E 172) (for 75 mg and 300 mg capsules); ink: shellac, black iron oxide (E 172), propylene glycol, potassium hydroxide.
Dosage form
Capsules.
Basic physicochemical properties.
50 mg capsules: hard opaque (white/white) gelatin capsules with a black stripe, size 3, containing a white to off-white powder. Imprinted on the body with “PGN 50” and on the cap with “Pfizer” in black ink.
75 mg capsules: hard opaque (white/orange) gelatin capsules, size 4, containing white to off-white powder. Imprinted on the body with “PGN 75” and on the cap with “Pfizer” in black ink.
150 mg capsules: hard opaque (white/white) gelatin capsules, size 2, containing white to off-white powder. Imprinted on the body with “PGN 150” and on the cap with “Pfizer” in black ink.
300 mg capsules: hard opaque (white/orange) gelatin capsules, size 0, containing white to off-white powder. Imprinted on the body with “PGN 300” and on the cap with “Pfizer” in black ink.
Pharmacotherapeutic group
Antiepileptic drugs. Other antiepileptic drugs.
ATX code N03A X16.
Pharmacological properties
Pharmacodynamics.
The active substance is pregabalin, which is an analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid [(S)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid].
Mechanism of action.
Pregabalin binds to the auxiliary subunit (a2–d protein) of voltage-gated calcium channels in the central nervous system (CNS).
Clinical efficacy and safety.
Neuropathic pain.
Studies have shown the drug to be effective in treating diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and spinal cord injury. The drug's effectiveness in other types of neuropathic pain has not been studied.
Pregabalin has been studied in 10 controlled clinical trials of up to 13 weeks duration with twice-daily dosing and in trials of up to 8 weeks duration with three times-daily dosing. Overall, the safety and efficacy profiles for the twice-daily and three times-daily dosing regimens were similar.
In clinical studies of up to 12 weeks duration in which the drug was used to treat neuropathic pain, a reduction in peripheral and central pain was observed after the first week and was maintained throughout the treatment period.
In controlled clinical trials of peripheral neuropathic pain, 35% of patients treated with pregabalin and 18% of patients treated with placebo achieved a 50% improvement in pain scores. Among patients who did not experience somnolence, this improvement was observed in 33% of patients treated with pregabalin and 18% of patients treated with placebo. Among patients who experienced somnolence, the proportion of patients who responded to treatment was 48% in the pregabalin group and 16% in the placebo group.
In a controlled clinical trial of central neuropathic pain, 22% of patients treated with pregabalin and 7% of patients treated with placebo had a 50% improvement in pain scores.
Epilepsy.
Adjunctive therapy: Pregabalin has been studied in 3 controlled clinical trials of 12 weeks duration with twice- or three-times-daily dosing regimens. Overall, the safety and efficacy profiles for the twice- and three-times-daily dosing regimens were similar.
A decrease in the frequency of seizures was observed already in the first week.
In a 12-week placebo-controlled study, children (aged 4 to 16 years) were treated with pregabalin 2.5 mg/kg/day (maximum 150 mg/day), pregabalin 10 mg/kg/day (maximum 600 mg/day), or placebo. At least a 50% reduction in partial onset seizures from baseline was observed in 40.6% of patients receiving pregabalin 10 mg/kg/day (p=0.0068 vs. placebo), 29.1% of patients receiving pregabalin 2.5 mg/kg/day (p=0.2600 vs. placebo), and 22.6% of those receiving placebo.
In a 14-day placebo-controlled study, children (aged 1 month to less than 4 years) were given pregabalin 7 mg/kg/day, pregabalin 14 mg/kg/day, or placebo. The median daily seizure frequency at baseline and at the final visit was 4.7 and 3.8 for pregabalin 7 mg/kg/day, 5.4 and 1.4 for pregabalin 14 mg/kg/day, and 2.9 and 2.3 for placebo, respectively. Pregabalin 14 mg/kg/day significantly reduced the log-transformed partial-onset seizure frequency compared with placebo (p = 0.0223); pregabalin 7 mg/kg/day showed no improvement compared with placebo.
In a 12-week placebo-controlled study in patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures, 219 patients aged 5 to 65 years (including 66 patients aged 5 to 16 years) were treated with pregabalin 5 mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg/day) or 10 mg/kg/day (maximum 600 mg/day) or placebo as adjunctive therapy. At least a 50% reduction in PGTC seizure frequency was observed in 41.3%, 38.9% and 41.7% of patients treated with pregabalin 5 mg/kg/day, pregabalin 10 mg/kg/day and placebo, respectively.
Monotherapy (in newly diagnosed patients). Pregabalin was studied in 1 controlled clinical trial of 56 weeks duration with twice daily dosing. Pregabalin did not achieve the same level of efficacy as lamotrigine as assessed by the 6-month seizure-free endpoint. Pregabalin and lamotrigine were equally safe and well tolerated.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Pregabalin has been studied in 6 controlled studies of 4–6 weeks duration, one 8-week study in elderly patients, and one long-term relapse prevention study with a double-blind relapse prevention phase of 6 months duration.
A reduction in symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder according to the Hamilton Anxiety Assessment Scale (HAM-A) was observed as early as week 1.
In controlled clinical trials (4-8 weeks duration), 52% of patients treated with pregabalin and 38% of patients treated with placebo had at least a 50% improvement in HAM-A total score from baseline to endpoint.
In controlled trials, blurred vision was more frequently observed in patients treated with pregabalin than in patients treated with placebo. In most cases, this phenomenon resolved with continued therapy. Ophthalmological examinations (including visual acuity testing, formal visual field testing, and dilated fundus examination) were performed in over 3600 patients in controlled clinical trials. Among these patients, visual acuity deteriorated in 6.5% of patients in the pregabalin group and 4.8% of patients in the placebo group. Visual field changes were observed in 12.4% of patients treated with pregabalin and 11.7% of patients in the placebo group. Fundus changes were observed in 1.7% of patients treated with pregabalin and 2.1% of patients in the placebo group.
The efficacy of Lyrica was established in one 14-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study (F1) and one 6-week, randomized withdrawal study (F2). These studies enrolled patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria (3-month history of widespread pain and pain present in 11 or more of 18 specific tender points). The studies demonstrated a reduction in pain on a visual analog scale. Improvement was additionally demonstrated on the patient's global assessment and on a fibromyalgia impact questionnaire.
Children: A 15-week placebo-controlled study was conducted in 107 children aged 12 to 17 years with fibromyalgia who received Lyrica at a dose of 75 to 450 mg/day. The primary efficacy endpoint (change in total pain intensity from baseline to week 15; calculated using an 11-point rating scale) demonstrated a numerically greater improvement in patients treated with pregabalin compared to patients treated with placebo, but this improvement did not reach statistical significance. The most common adverse reactions observed in clinical trials were dizziness, nausea, headache, weight gain, and fatigue. The overall safety profile in adolescents was similar to that in adults with fibromyalgia.
Pharmacokinetics.
The steady-state pharmacokinetics of pregabalin were similar in healthy volunteers, patients with epilepsy taking antiepileptic drugs, and patients with chronic pain.
Pregabalin is rapidly absorbed in the fasted state and reaches peak plasma concentrations within 1 hour after single or multiple doses. The estimated oral bioavailability of pregabalin is ≥ 90% and is independent of dose. Steady state is reached after 24–48 hours after multiple doses. The rate of absorption of pregabalin is reduced when taken with food, resulting in a decrease in maximum concentration (Cmax) by approximately 25–30% and a prolongation of tmax to approximately 2.5 hours. However, taking pregabalin with food had no clinically significant effect on the extent of its absorption.
Distribution.
Preclinical studies have shown that pregabalin crosses the blood-brain barrier in mice, rats and monkeys. Pregabalin has been shown to cross the placenta in rats and is excreted in the milk of lactating rats. In humans, the volume of distribution of pregabalin after oral administration is approximately 0.56 l/kg. Pregabalin is not bound to plasma proteins.
Metabolism.
Pregabalin undergoes minimal metabolism in humans. Following a dose of radiolabeled pregabalin, approximately 98% of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine as unchanged pregabalin. The N-methylated derivative of pregabalin, the major metabolite of the drug detected in urine, accounted for 0.9% of the administered dose. In nonclinical studies, there was no racemization of the S-enantiomer of pregabalin to the R-enantiomer.
Breeding.
Pregabalin is eliminated from the systemic circulation unchanged, primarily by the kidneys. The mean elimination half-life of pregabalin is 6.3 hours. The plasma and renal clearance of pregabalin are directly proportional to creatinine clearance (see section "Pharmacokinetics. Renal impairment").
Patients with impaired renal function or patients on hemodialysis require dose adjustment (see section "Method of administration and dosage", table).
Linearity/nonlinearity.
The pharmacokinetics of pregabalin are linear over the recommended dose range. The inter-patient variability in the pharmacokinetics of pregabalin is low (< 20%). The pharmacokinetics of multiple doses are predictable from single-dose data. Therefore, routine monitoring of pregabalin plasma concentrations is not required.
Sex.
Results of clinical studies indicate that there is no clinically significant effect of gender on pregabalin plasma concentrations.
Kidney failure.
Pregabalin clearance is directly proportional to creatinine clearance. In addition, pregabalin is effectively removed from plasma by hemodialysis (after 4 hours of hemodialysis, the concentration of pregabalin in the blood plasma decreases by approximately 50%). Since the drug is excreted mainly by the kidneys, patients with renal insufficiency should reduce the dose of the drug, and after hemodialysis - apply an additional dose (see section "Method of administration and dosage", table).
Liver failure.
Specific pharmacokinetic studies have not been conducted in patients with hepatic impairment. Since pregabalin is not extensively metabolized and is excreted primarily unchanged in the urine, hepatic impairment is unlikely to have a significant effect on pregabalin plasma concentrations.
Children.
The pharmacokinetics of pregabalin were evaluated in children with epilepsy (age groups: 1 to 23 months, 2 to 6 years, 7 to 11 years, and 12 to 16 years) at doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day, 5 mg/kg/day, 10 mg/kg/day, and 15 mg/kg/day in a pharmacokinetic and tolerability study.
After oral administration of pregabalin to children in the fasted state, the time to peak plasma concentration was generally similar across age groups and ranged from 0.5 hours to 2 hours post-dose.
Pregabalin Cmax and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) increased linearly with increasing dose in each age group. In children weighing <30 kg, AUC values were 30% lower, due to a 43% increase in weight-adjusted clearance in these patients compared to patients weighing ≥30 kg.
The terminal half-life of pregabalin averaged approximately 3–4 hours in children under 6 years of age and 4–6 hours in children over 7 years of age.
In a population pharmacokinetic analysis, creatinine clearance was shown to be a significant covariate for oral pregabalin clearance and body weight was a significant covariate for the apparent volume of distribution of oral pregabalin, and this relationship was similar in pediatric and adult patients.
The pharmacokinetics of pregabalin in patients less than 3 months of age have not been studied (see sections 4.2, 4.8, and 4.8).
Elderly patients.
Pregabalin clearance tends to decrease with age. This decrease in oral pregabalin clearance is consistent with the age-related decrease in creatinine clearance. Patients with age-related renal impairment may require a reduction in the pregabalin dose (see Dosage and Administration, Table 1).
The pharmacokinetics of pregabalin administered at a dose of 150 mg every 12 hours (300 mg daily dose) were evaluated in 10 lactating women for at least 12 weeks postpartum. Breastfeeding had no or negligible effect on the pharmacokinetics of pregabalin. Pregabalin was excreted in breast milk, with mean steady-state concentrations approximately 76% of maternal plasma concentrations. The estimated dose to the breastfed infant (with a mean milk intake of 150 mL/kg/day) from a woman taking pregabalin at a dose of 300 mg/day or a maximum dose of 600 mg/day is 0.31 or 0.62 mg/kg/day, respectively. These estimated doses represent approximately 7% of the total maternal daily dose on a mg/kg basis.
Indication
Neuropathic pain.
Lyrica is indicated for the treatment of neuropathic pain of peripheral or central origin in adults.
Epilepsy.
Lyrica is indicated in adults as adjunctive treatment for partial seizures with or without secondary generalization.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Lyrica is indicated for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in adults.
Fibromyalgia.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in the "Composition" section.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other types of interactions
Since pregabalin is excreted primarily unchanged in the urine, undergoes minimal metabolism in humans (≤ 2% of the dose is excreted in the urine as metabolites), does not inhibit the metabolism of other drugs in vitro, and is not bound to plasma proteins, it is unlikely that pregabalin could cause or be the target of pharmacokinetic interactions.
In vivo studies and population pharmacokinetic analysis.
Thus, in vivo studies, no clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions were observed between pregabalin and phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, lamotrigine, gabapentin, lorazepam, oxycodone or ethanol. Population pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that oral antidiabetics, diuretics, insulin, phenobarbital, tiagabine and topiramate had no clinically significant effect on the clearance of pregabalin.
Oral contraceptives, norethisterone and/or ethinyl estradiol.
Co-administration of pregabalin with oral contraceptives, norethisterone and/or ethinyl estradiol does not affect the steady-state pharmacokinetics of either drug.
Drugs that affect the CNS.
Pregabalin may potentiate the effects of ethanol and lorazepam. During post-marketing surveillance, cases of respiratory failure, coma and death have been reported in patients taking pregabalin in combination with opioids and/or other CNS depressants. Pregabalin is likely to potentiate the cognitive and gross motor impairments caused by oxycodone.
Interactions in elderly patients.
No specific pharmacodynamic interaction studies have been conducted in elderly volunteers. Drug interaction studies have only been conducted in adult patients.
Application features
Patients with diabetes.
In accordance with current clinical practice, some patients with diabetes mellitus who gain weight during pregabalin therapy may require dose adjustment of their antidiabetic medicinal products.
Hypersensitivity reactions.
Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, have been reported in post-marketing experience. If symptoms of angioedema such as facial swelling, perioral swelling or upper respiratory tract swelling occur, pregabalin should be discontinued immediately.
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
Rare cases of cutaneous adverse reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be life-threatening or fatal, have been reported with pregabalin. Patients should be advised of these signs and symptoms when pregabalin is prescribed and monitored closely for skin reactions. If signs and symptoms suggestive of these reactions occur, pregabalin should be discontinued immediately and alternative treatment should be considered (if appropriate).
Dizziness, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, confusion and mental disorders.
Pregabalin has been associated with dizziness and somnolence, which may increase the risk of falls in elderly patients. Loss of consciousness, confusion and mental impairment have also been reported in the post-marketing setting. Therefore, patients should be advised to exercise caution until they are aware of the potential effects of this medicinal product.
In controlled trials, blurred vision was more frequently observed in patients treated with pregabalin than in patients treated with placebo. In most cases, this phenomenon resolved with continued therapy. In clinical trials in which ophthalmological examinations were performed, the incidence of visual acuity deterioration and visual field changes was higher in patients treated with pregabalin compared to patients in the placebo group; the incidence of fundus changes was higher in patients in the placebo group (see section "Pharmacodynamics").
Post-marketing visual adverse reactions, including vision loss, blurred vision, or other changes in visual acuity, many of which were transient, have also been reported. These visual symptoms may resolve or improve after discontinuation of pregabalin.
Kidney failure.
Cases of renal failure have been reported, which were sometimes reversible after discontinuation of pregabalin.
Withdrawal of concomitant antiepileptic drugs.
There is currently insufficient data on whether concomitant antiepileptic drugs can be withdrawn once seizure control is achieved with the addition of pregabalin to therapy, in order to switch to pregabalin monotherapy.
Congestive heart failure.
Congestive heart failure has been reported in some patients taking pregabalin in the post-marketing setting. This reaction has been observed primarily in the treatment of neuropathic pain in elderly patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Pregabalin should be used with caution in such patients. This phenomenon may resolve upon discontinuation of pregabalin.
Treatment of neuropathic pain of central origin due to spinal cord injury.
During the treatment of central neuropathic pain caused by spinal cord injury, the frequency of adverse reactions in general, as well as adverse reactions from the central nervous system and in particular drowsiness, was increased. This may be due to the additive effect of concomitant medicinal products (e.g. antispasticity agents) required for the treatment of this condition. This should be taken into account when prescribing pregabalin for this condition.
Respiratory depression.
Cases of severe respiratory depression have been reported with pregabalin. Patients with compromised respiratory function, respiratory or neurological disease, renal impairment, concomitant use of CNS depressants, and the elderly may be at greater risk of this serious adverse reaction. Dose adjustment may be necessary for these patients.
Suicidal thinking and behavior.
Suicidal ideation and behavior have been reported in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs for some indications. A meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials of antiepileptic drugs also showed a small increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior. The mechanism of this risk is unknown. Suicidal ideation and behavior have been reported in patients treated with pregabalin in the post-marketing setting (see Adverse Reactions). An epidemiological study using a self-control design (comparing treatment periods with periods without treatment in an individual patient) has shown an increased risk of new suicidal behavior and deaths due to suicide in patients treated with pregabalin.
Patients (and caregivers of patients) should seek medical advice if they develop signs of suicidal thinking or behaviour. Patients should be monitored for signs of suicidal thinking and behaviour, and appropriate treatment should be considered. In the event of suicidal thinking and behaviour, discontinuation of pregabalin should be considered.
Deterioration of the function of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Post-marketing reports of events associated with lower gastrointestinal dysfunction (such as intestinal obstruction, paralytic ileus, constipation) have been reported when pregabalin was administered with medicinal products that may cause constipation, such as opioid analgesics. Precautions should be taken to prevent constipation when pregabalin is administered concomitantly with opioids (especially in women and the elderly).
Concomitant use with opioids.
Misuse, abuse or addiction.
Pregabalin can cause drug dependence, which can occur at therapeutic doses. Cases of abuse and misuse have been reported. Patients with a history of substance abuse may be at higher risk of pregabalin misuse, abuse, and dependence, and pregabalin should be used with caution in such patients. The risk of misuse, abuse, or dependence should be carefully evaluated before prescribing pregabalin.
Patients receiving pregabalin should be monitored for signs of pregabalin misuse, abuse, or dependence, such as development of habituation, overdose, and drug-seeking behavior.
Withdrawal symptoms.
Some patients have experienced withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of short-term or long-term pregabalin therapy. The following symptoms have been reported: insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like syndrome, nervousness, depression, pain, seizures, hyperhidrosis, and dizziness, which are indicative of drug dependence. The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of pregabalin may indicate drug dependence (see section 4.8). This information should be communicated to the patient before starting treatment.
If pregabalin needs to be discontinued, it is recommended to do so gradually, over a period of at least 1 week, regardless of the indication (see section “Method of administration and dosage”).
Convulsions, including status epilepticus and grand mal seizures, may occur during pregabalin therapy or shortly after its discontinuation.
Data on pregabalin withdrawal after long-term use indicate that the incidence and severity of withdrawal symptoms may be dose-dependent.
Encephalopathy.
Cases of encephalopathy have been reported, occurring predominantly in patients with underlying conditions that may predispose to encephalopathy.
Women of reproductive age / contraception.
Pregabalin use during the first trimester of pregnancy may cause serious birth defects in the fetus. Pregabalin should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit to the pregnant woman clearly outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception during treatment (see section “Use during pregnancy or lactation”).
Lactose intolerance.
Lyrica contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Sodium content.
Lyrica contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, i.e. essentially sodium-free. Patients on a controlled sodium diet may be informed of this.
Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Women of reproductive age / contraceptives for women.
Women of reproductive age should use effective contraception during treatment (see section "Special warnings and precautions for use").
Pregnancy.
Reproductive toxicity has been demonstrated in animal studies.
Pregabalin has been shown to cross the placenta in rats (see Pharmacokinetics). Pregabalin may cross the placenta in humans.
Significant congenital malformations.
An observational study conducted in Scandinavia, which followed over 2700 pregnancies, demonstrated a higher prevalence of major congenital malformations (MCMs) in the infant population (live or stillborn) exposed to pregabalin in the first trimester compared to the unexposed population (5.9% vs. 4.1%).
The risk of developing VVD in children whose mothers used pregabalin in the first trimester of pregnancy was slightly higher compared with children who were not exposed in utero (adjusted prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.14 (0.96–1.35)), and compared with children exposed to lamotrigine (1.29 (1.01–1.65)) or duloxetine (1.39 (1.07–1.82)).
Analysis of specific malformations showed a higher risk of malformations of the nervous system, eyes, orofacial clefts, urinary tract and genital malformations, but the number of such malformations was small and the estimates were imprecise.
Lyrica should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary (when the benefit to the mother clearly outweighs the potential risk to the fetus).
Breast-feeding.
Small amounts of pregabalin have been detected in the milk of nursing women. Nursing women should be advised that breastfeeding is not recommended while taking pregabalin.
Fertility.
There are no clinical data on the effect of pregabalin on female fertility.
In a fertility study in female rats, adverse effects on reproductive function were observed. In a fertility study in male rats, adverse effects on reproductive function and development were observed. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.
Ability to influence reaction speed when driving vehicles or other mechanisms
Lyrica may have minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Lyrica may cause dizziness and drowsiness, and thus may affect the ability to drive and use machines. Therefore, patients should be advised to refrain from driving, operating complex machinery, and other potentially hazardous activities until it is known whether this medicinal product affects their ability to perform such activities.
Method of administration and doses
Method of application.
The drug Lyrica is taken regardless of meals.
This medicine is for oral use only.
Doses.
The dosage range of the drug can vary between 150–600 mg per day. The daily dose is divided into 2 or 3 doses.
Neuropathic pain.
Pregabalin therapy can be initiated at a dose of 150 mg/day, divided into 2 or 3 doses. Depending on the individual response and tolerability of the drug by the patient, the dose can be increased to 300 mg/day after 3–7 days, and if necessary, to a maximum dose of 600 mg/day after another 7 days.
Epilepsy.
Pregabalin therapy can be initiated at a dose of 150 mg per day, divided into 2 or 3 doses. Depending on the individual response and tolerability of the drug by the patient, the dose can be increased to 300 mg per day after the first week of treatment. After another week, the dose can be increased to a maximum of 600 mg per day.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
The dose, divided into 2 or 3 doses, may vary between 150 and 600 mg per day. The need for continued therapy should be reviewed periodically.
Pregabalin therapy can be initiated at a dose of 150 mg per day. Depending on the individual response and tolerability of the drug by the patient, the dose can be increased to 300 mg per day after the first week of treatment. After another week of treatment, the dose can be increased to 450 mg per day. After another week, the dose can be increased to a maximum of 600 mg per day.
Fibromyalgia.
The recommended dose for the treatment of fibromyalgia is 300 to 450 mg per day. Treatment should be initiated at 75 mg twice daily (150 mg per day). Depending on efficacy and tolerability, the dose may be increased to 150 mg twice daily (300 mg per day) within one week. For patients for whom 300 mg per day is insufficiently effective, the dose may be increased to 225 mg twice daily (450 mg per day). Although a study has been conducted with a dose of 600 mg per day, there is no evidence that this dose would provide additional benefit; it was also less well tolerated. Given the dose-related adverse reactions, doses above 450 mg per day are not recommended. Since Lyrica is primarily excreted by the kidneys, the dose should be adjusted in patients with impaired renal function.
Pregabalin withdrawal.
In accordance with current clinical practice, it is recommended to discontinue pregabalin therapy gradually, over a period of at least one week, regardless of the indication (see sections “Special warnings and precautions for use” and “Adverse reactions”).
Kidney dysfunction.
Pregabalin is eliminated from the systemic circulation unchanged, primarily by the kidneys. Since pregabalin clearance is directly proportional to creatinine clearance (see section 5.2), the dose should be reduced in patients with renal impairment on an individual basis as indicated in the table below, based on creatinine clearance (CLcr), which is determined by the formula:
Pregabalin is effectively removed from plasma by hemodialysis (50% of the drug within 4 hours). For patients on hemodialysis, the daily dose of pregabalin should be adjusted.
