CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Pregabalin is a controlled substance in Nigeria. It is regulated by NAFDAC and the NDLEA. Possession, sale, or distribution without proper authorization is illegal. Only use under medical supervision.
Pregabalin is a prescription medicine for nerve-related pain and epilepsy. It belongs to a group called gabapentinoids, and it works by calming over-active nerve signals — it binds to a part of the calcium channels on nerve endings and reduces the release of the chemical messengers that carry pain and seizure signals. Best known by the original brand name Lyrica, it is taken as capsules or tablets in strengths from 25mg to 300mg. In Nigeria it is registered by many companies; our copy of the NAFDAC register lists dozens of active pregabalin products.
In the NAFDAC register
114 registered products
from 55 registration holders
What it costs online
about ₦29,400
≈₦1,050 per tablet (tablet/capsule)
Sampled from 6 listings across HealthPlus and MedPlus and Supermart.ng · August 2026
Full price breakdown →Brands of Pregabalin in Nigeria
Comes as
Those 114 products from 55 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregasafe 75 | Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria) Ltd | 75mg | Capsule | A4-9007 |
| Pregasafe 150 | Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria) Ltd | 150mg | Capsule | A4-9042 |
| Pigus 75 | Seal Healthcare Limited | 75mg | Capsule | A4-100154 |
| Rexagab 75 | Hetero Labs Nigeria Limited | 75mg | Capsule | A4-100438 |
Pregabalin Price in Nigeria
As of August 2026, Pregabalin tablets sells for about ₦1,050 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦11,200–₦32,200) across HealthPlus and MedPlus and Supermart.ng. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
₦11,200 for 30 tablets
₦29,850 for 28 tablets
Same 75mg Pregabalin — 2.9× the price, tablet for tablet.
median ₦29,400 · 6 listings
Better valuePREGASAFE (PREGABALIN) 75MG *30CAP(MedPlus)
₦11,200₦373 per tabletCosts moreLyrica (Pregabalin) 75mg Caps x28(HealthPlus)
₦29,850₦1,066 per tablet6 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus + Supermart.ng — brands and pack sizes vary · August 2026.
First tracked August 2026.
How to Verify Your Pregabalin is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — for example, Pregasafe 150 (Phillips Pharmaceuticals) carries A4-9042 in our copy of the register.
- 2Verify any pregabalin brand's number with our NAFDAC checker before paying.
- 3Buy pregabalin only from a registered pharmacy against a prescription — not from street vendors, motor parks, or unregistered shops, which are the main source of misused, substandard and counterfeit stock.
- 4Be wary of anyone selling pregabalin loose (without its blister and carton) or in unusually large quantities — both are red flags for the illicit trade.
- 5Inspect the pack for a clear batch number, expiry date and clean printing, and confirm the strength matches what was prescribed.
Where to Buy
Pregabalin is a controlled substance in Nigeria. It is dispensed by a registered pharmacist in a licensed pharmacy or hospital, against a valid prescription — not by open-market traders, roadside vendors or online sellers, and never by the carton. Ogbogwu does not list wholesale sellers for it and does not take bulk requests for it. If you have been prescribed Pregabalin, verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you take it, and see banned and restricted drugs in Nigeria for what the law says about controlled medicines.
What is Pregabalin?
Used as directed, pregabalin genuinely helps conditions that ordinary painkillers do not touch: the burning, shooting or electric-shock nerve pain of diabetes, the lingering pain after shingles, some chronic pain syndromes, and — as an add-on — certain kinds of epilepsy and severe anxiety. For people with real neuropathic pain it can be life-changing.
But pregabalin also carries a serious risk of misuse, dependence and addiction, and this is a growing problem in Nigeria — part of the same opioid-and-sedative crisis that surrounds tramadol and codeine, and heavily affecting young people in the north. Taken in large doses, or mixed with opioids or alcohol, pregabalin produces a sedating 'high', and stopping suddenly after regular use causes withdrawal. Because of this, NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria have moved to control its sale: pregabalin is a prescription-only medicine that should be dispensed by a pharmacist against a doctor's prescription, not bought loosely over the counter or from street vendors. This page explains what it is for and the dangers of misusing it — it is not a guide to taking it without medical care.
What is Pregabalin used for?
In Nigeria, Pregabalin is commonly used for:
- Neuropathic (nerve) pain — including painful diabetic neuropathy, one of its commonest uses in Nigeria
- Nerve pain after shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia)
- Nerve pain from spinal or other nerve injury
- Epilepsy — as an add-on (adjunctive) treatment for partial-onset seizures
- Generalised anxiety disorder — under specialist supervision
- Fibromyalgia and some other chronic pain conditions
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
Pregabalin is always started low and increased slowly by the prescriber. A common starting dose for nerve pain is 75mg twice daily, adjusted after a week or two according to response and side effects, up to a usual maximum of 300mg twice daily (600mg a day). It can be taken with or without food. Just as important as starting is stopping: pregabalin must be tapered down gradually over at least a week, never stopped abruptly, to avoid withdrawal and — in people with epilepsy — rebound seizures. The dose and the taper belong to your doctor, not to guesswork.
Children
Pregabalin is not routinely recommended for children and adolescents; its use in under-18s is limited to specific specialist situations. It should never be given to a child except under the direct care of a paediatric specialist.
Elderly
Older adults are more sensitive to pregabalin's drowsiness, dizziness and unsteadiness, which raises the risk of falls. The dose is also reduced when kidney function is impaired — common with age — because pregabalin is cleared almost entirely by the kidneys. Lower doses and careful review are the rule.
Do not drink alcohol with pregabalin and do not combine it with opioids (tramadol, codeine, pentazocine) or other sedatives except under medical supervision — the combination can dangerously suppress breathing and has caused deaths. Do not drive until you know how it affects you. If you have been taking it regularly, never stop suddenly; ask your doctor for a tapering plan. If you feel you are needing more than prescribed, or craving it, tell your doctor honestly — that is a treatable problem, not a moral failing.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Drowsiness and sleepiness
- •Dizziness and unsteadiness
- •Weight gain and increased appetite
- •Dry mouth
- •Blurred vision
- •Swelling of the hands and feet
- •Difficulty concentrating
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Dependence and addiction — a real risk, higher with large doses, long use, or a history of substance misuse
- Dangerous slowing of breathing, especially when combined with opioids, sedatives or alcohol
- Severe allergic reactions (swelling of the face, lips or throat; difficulty breathing)
- Mood changes, depression or thoughts of self-harm — report these urgently
- Withdrawal on stopping suddenly — anxiety, insomnia, sweating, nausea, and seizures in people with epilepsy
- Severe skin reactions (rare)
When to see a doctor
Get urgent medical help for slowed or difficult breathing, severe drowsiness that is hard to rouse from, or swelling of the face or throat — these are emergencies, particularly if pregabalin has been taken with tramadol, codeine or alcohol. See your doctor promptly for new or worsening low mood or thoughts of self-harm, and never stop the medicine abruptly on your own. If you or someone you know is misusing pregabalin, seek help early — the Federal Ministry of Health runs a toll-free drug-help line (call 0800-10000-2000).
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Pregabalin if you have:
- Known allergy to pregabalin
- Use with great caution in anyone with a history of drug or alcohol misuse
- Use with caution in severe heart failure and in significant kidney impairment (dose reduction required)
Drug interactions
- •Opioids (tramadol, codeine, pentazocine, morphine) — dangerous additive sedation and breathing suppression; a leading cause of pregabalin-related deaths
- •Alcohol — increased drowsiness and risk of breathing problems
- •Benzodiazepines and other sedatives (diazepam, sleeping tablets) — added sedation
- •Medicines that cause drowsiness, including some antihistamines
- •Drugs affecting the kidneys can raise pregabalin levels
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregabalin is generally avoided in pregnancy unless clearly necessary, as some studies suggest a possible increased risk of birth defects; women who could become pregnant should discuss reliable contraception with their doctor before starting. It passes into breast milk and is usually avoided while breastfeeding. Any use in pregnancy or breastfeeding must be a doctor's decision weighing the specific risks and benefits.
Related Resources for Pregabalin
Guides, articles, and tools related to Pregabalin and other pain & fever medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Pregabalin on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Pregabalin.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.