About Pregabalin (PGB)

PGB’s effects and risk

Pregabalin can produce feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness. It can also enhance/increase the euphoric effects of other drugs, like heroin and other opioids, but pregabalin and opioids can interact to stop people breathing if taken together.

Improper use of PGB will cause health risk. For the physical aspect, PGB can cause dizziness, drowsiness and confusion, all of which can put you at risk of hurting yourself. Less commonly, PGB can cause hallucinations, depression, agitation and panic attacks.

PGB is addictive

It is recommended that prescribed pregabalin use is not stopped abruptly as it may cause anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain and sweating.

Substantial misuse of pregabalin has been reported. In view of this, and in view of pregabalin's known effects, it seems possible that dependence may develop in some regular users.

The use of PGB worldwide

Since being introduced in the US and UK in 1993, pregabalin has spread across the world.

A study published by the medical journal Nature Communications estimates that the number of doses of pregabalin and gabapentin taken daily around the world rose more than fourfold between 2008 and 2018.

Official reports suggest pregabalin is also being increasingly abused in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

In 2017, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Rehabilitation Centre said pregabalin and gabapentin were the most commonly abused drugs by under-30s.

Large quantities of illegally-traded pregabalin have been captured in the UAE and Kuwait.

There has also been a global increase in pregabalin abuse and deaths.

Australia's 2023 Annual Overdose Report highlighted 887 deaths linked to pregabalin and gabapentin between 2000 and 2021 - 93% involving pregabalin.

With the growing use of PGB and in view of its addiction risk, CNDH newly launched the “One Step Pregabalin Urine Test kit” to provide the preliminary screening of misuse of this drug.