[Pregabalin can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms]. 2015

Julie Nordgaard, and Gesche Jürgens
Psykiatrisk Center Hvidovre, Brøndbyøstervej 160, 2605 Brøndby. julie.nordgaard.frederiksen@regionh.dk.

A 38-year-old man was referred to the psychiatric department due to auditory hallucinations, suicidal ideation and a large daily intake of 8.4 g pregabalin. The Danish National Medication Register showed that the patient had bought pregabalin 21 times within the last two months, a total of 487.2 g pregabalin. Withdrawal symptoms disappeared within 48 hours, psychotic experiences and the suicidal ideations faded during the next couple of weeks. High doses of pregabalin are tolerated with surprisingly few toxicological consequences, though lethal cases have been described. Pregabalin abuse, however, can lead to dependency.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D006212 Hallucinations Subjectively experienced sensations in the absence of an appropriate stimulus, but which are regarded by the individual as real. They may be of organic origin or associated with MENTAL DISORDERS. Hallucination of Body Sensation,Hallucinations, Auditory,Hallucinations, Dissociative,Hallucinations, Elementary,Hallucinations, Formed, of People,Hallucinations, Gustatory,Hallucinations, Hypnagogic,Hallucinations, Hypnapompic,Hallucinations, Internal Body Sensation,Hallucinations, Kinesthetic,Hallucinations, Mood Congruent,Hallucinations, Mood Incongruent,Hallucinations, Olfactory,Hallucinations, Organic,Hallucinations, Reflex,Hallucinations, Sensory,Hallucinations, Somatic,Hallucinations, Tactile,Hallucinations, Verbal Auditory,Hallucinations, Visual,Hallucinations, Visual, Formed,Hallucinations, Visual, Unformed,Auditory Hallucination,Auditory Hallucination, Verbal,Auditory Hallucinations,Auditory Hallucinations, Verbal,Body Sensation Hallucination,Body Sensation Hallucinations,Dissociative Hallucination,Dissociative Hallucinations,Elementary Hallucination,Elementary Hallucinations,Gustatory Hallucination,Gustatory Hallucinations,Hallucination,Hallucination, Auditory,Hallucination, Dissociative,Hallucination, Elementary,Hallucination, Gustatory,Hallucination, Hypnagogic,Hallucination, Hypnapompic,Hallucination, Kinesthetic,Hallucination, Mood Congruent,Hallucination, Mood Incongruent,Hallucination, Olfactory,Hallucination, Organic,Hallucination, Reflex,Hallucination, Sensory,Hallucination, Somatic,Hallucination, Tactile,Hallucination, Verbal Auditory,Hallucination, Visual,Hypnagogic Hallucination,Hypnagogic Hallucinations,Hypnapompic Hallucination,Hypnapompic Hallucinations,Kinesthetic Hallucination,Kinesthetic Hallucinations,Mood Congruent Hallucination,Mood Congruent Hallucinations,Mood Incongruent Hallucination,Mood Incongruent Hallucinations,Olfactory Hallucination,Olfactory Hallucinations,Organic Hallucination,Organic Hallucinations,Reflex Hallucination,Reflex Hallucinations,Sensory Hallucination,Sensory Hallucinations,Somatic Hallucination,Somatic Hallucinations,Tactile Hallucination,Tactile Hallucinations,Verbal Auditory Hallucination,Verbal Auditory Hallucinations,Visual Hallucination,Visual Hallucinations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000069583 Pregabalin A gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivative that functions as a CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER and is used as an ANTICONVULSANT as well as an ANTI-ANXIETY AGENT. It is also used as an ANALGESIC in the treatment of NEUROPATHIC PAIN and FIBROMYALGIA. (R-)-3-isobutyl GABA,(S)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid,(S+)-3-isobutyl GABA,3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid,3-isobutyl GABA,CI 1008,CI-1008,Lyrica,1008, CI,3 isobutyl GABA,CI1008,GABA, 3-isobutyl
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001007 Anxiety Feelings or emotions of dread, apprehension, and impending disaster but not disabling as with ANXIETY DISORDERS. Angst,Anxiousness,Hypervigilance,Nervousness,Social Anxiety,Anxieties, Social,Anxiety, Social,Social Anxieties
D013375 Substance Withdrawal Syndrome Physiological and psychological symptoms associated with withdrawal from the use of a drug after prolonged administration or habituation. The concept includes withdrawal from smoking or drinking, as well as withdrawal from an administered drug. Drug Withdrawal Symptoms,Withdrawal Symptoms,Drug Withdrawal Symptom,Substance Withdrawal Syndromes,Symptom, Drug Withdrawal,Symptom, Withdrawal,Symptoms, Drug Withdrawal,Symptoms, Withdrawal,Syndrome, Substance Withdrawal,Syndromes, Substance Withdrawal,Withdrawal Symptom,Withdrawal Symptom, Drug,Withdrawal Symptoms, Drug,Withdrawal Syndrome, Substance,Withdrawal Syndromes, Substance
D014151 Anti-Anxiety Agents Agents that alleviate ANXIETY, tension, and ANXIETY DISORDERS, promote sedation, and have a calming effect without affecting clarity of consciousness or neurologic conditions. ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONISTS are commonly used in the symptomatic treatment of anxiety but are not included here. Anti-Anxiety Agent,Anti-Anxiety Drug,Anxiolytic,Anxiolytic Agent,Anxiolytic Agents,Tranquilizing Agents, Minor,Anti-Anxiety Drugs,Anti-Anxiety Effect,Anti-Anxiety Effects,Antianxiety Effect,Antianxiety Effects,Anxiolytic Effect,Anxiolytic Effects,Anxiolytics,Tranquillizing Agents, Minor,Agent, Anti-Anxiety,Agent, Anxiolytic,Agents, Anti-Anxiety,Agents, Anxiolytic,Agents, Minor Tranquilizing,Agents, Minor Tranquillizing,Anti Anxiety Agent,Anti Anxiety Agents,Anti Anxiety Drug,Anti Anxiety Drugs,Anti Anxiety Effect,Anti Anxiety Effects,Drug, Anti-Anxiety,Drugs, Anti-Anxiety,Effect, Anti-Anxiety,Effect, Antianxiety,Effect, Anxiolytic,Effects, Anti-Anxiety,Effects, Antianxiety,Effects, Anxiolytic,Minor Tranquilizing Agents,Minor Tranquillizing Agents
D059020 Suicidal Ideation A risk factor for suicide attempts and completions, it is the most common of all suicidal behavior, but only a minority of ideators engage in overt self-harm. Ideation, Suicidal,Ideations, Suicidal,Suicidal Ideations
D019966 Substance-Related Disorders Disorders related to substance use or abuse. Chemical Dependence,Drug Abuse,Drug Addiction,Drug Dependence,Drug Habituation,Drug Use Disorder,Drug Use Disorders,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance-Induced,Substance Abuse,Substance Dependence,Substance Related Disorder,Substance Use,Substance Use Disorder,Substance Use Disorders,Prescription Drug Abuse,Substance Addiction,Abuse, Drug,Abuse, Prescription Drug,Abuse, Substance,Addiction, Drug,Addiction, Substance,Chemical Dependences,Dependence, Chemical,Dependence, Drug,Dependence, Substance,Dependences, Chemical,Disorder, Drug Use,Disorder, Substance Related,Disorder, Substance Use,Disorders, Substance Related,Drug Abuse, Prescription,Habituation, Drug,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance Induced,Related Disorder, Substance,Related Disorders, Substance,Substance Abuses,Substance Uses,Use, Substance

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