# Pregabalin in Nigeria

Pregabalin has 96 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 48 registration holders; 18 further listings have lapsed.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/pregabalin/
- Drug class: Gabapentinoid (anticonvulsant and neuropathic pain agent) (Pain & Fever)
- Also known as: Lyrica, Pregabalin capsules
- Prescription required: yes (controlled substance in Nigeria)
- Last updated: October 2026

## Price in Nigeria

As of October 2026, Pregabalin tablets sell for about ₦1,115 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦11,200–₦34,680; Lyrica, Pregasafe) at three online pharmacies. The online price is up 1% since August 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.

## What is Pregabalin?

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.

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?

- 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

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- 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: Drowsiness and sleepiness; Dizziness and unsteadiness; Weight gain and increased appetite; Dry mouth; Blurred vision; Swelling of the hands and feet; Difficulty concentrating.

Serious (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

Do not take if: 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).

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.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Pregasafe 75 (Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria) Ltd, made in India); Pregasafe 150 (Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria) Ltd, made in India); Pigus 75 (Seal Healthcare Limited, made in India); Rexagab 75 (Hetero Labs Nigeria Limited, made in India); Lyrica (Pfizer Specialties Ltd, made in Germany).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/pregabalin/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — for example, Pregasafe 150 (Phillips Pharmaceuticals) carries A4-9042 in our copy of the register.
2. Verify any pregabalin brand's number with our NAFDAC checker before paying.
3. Buy 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.
4. Be wary of anyone selling pregabalin loose (without its blister and carton) or in unusually large quantities — both are red flags for the illicit trade.
5. Inspect the pack for a clear batch number, expiry date and clean printing, and confirm the strength matches what was prescribed.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### What is pregabalin used for?

Pregabalin treats nerve-related (neuropathic) pain — such as the burning pain of diabetic nerve damage or the pain that lingers after shingles — and is also used as an add-on for certain kinds of epilepsy and, under specialist care, for severe generalised anxiety. It is not an ordinary painkiller for headaches or everyday aches, and it works differently from drugs like paracetamol or ibuprofen. It should only be taken on a doctor's prescription.

### Is pregabalin addictive?

Yes, pregabalin can be misused and can cause dependence and addiction, and this is a serious and growing problem in Nigeria, especially among young people and often alongside tramadol, codeine or alcohol. The risk is higher with large doses, long-term use, and in anyone with a history of substance misuse. Taken exactly as a doctor prescribes, for a genuine medical reason, the risk is much lower — but the medicine should never be shared, stockpiled, or bought off the street.

### Is pregabalin controlled in Nigeria?

Pregabalin is a prescription-only medicine, and because of the rise in misuse, NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria have tightened controls on how it is imported, distributed and sold. In practice this means it should be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist against a valid prescription, and its open sale by street vendors and unregistered outlets is illegal. Regulations continue to tighten, so treat pregabalin as a controlled medicine even where enforcement is uneven.

### Can I stop taking pregabalin suddenly?

No. If you have been taking pregabalin regularly, stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal — anxiety, difficulty sleeping, sweating, nausea and, in people with epilepsy, rebound seizures. It must be tapered down gradually, usually over at least a week, under your doctor's guidance. If you want to stop, or you have run out, speak to your doctor or pharmacist rather than stopping abruptly.

### Why is it dangerous to mix pregabalin with tramadol or codeine?

Pregabalin, opioids like tramadol and codeine, and alcohol all slow down the brain and the drive to breathe. Combined, their effects multiply and can suppress breathing to a fatal degree — this combination is behind many pregabalin-related deaths in Nigeria and elsewhere. Never take pregabalin with opioids, sedatives or alcohol unless a doctor has specifically supervised it. If someone becomes very drowsy, confused or slow to breathe after such a mix, treat it as an emergency.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)