Neurológia pre prax 6/2014

Pharmacological profile of pregabaline (Lyrica)

Pregabaline (Lyrica) is a derivative of gamma-amino-butyric acid. It acts on a subunite of a voltage-gated calcium channel, and in this way it modulates an input of calcium into neurons of the central nervous system. Pregabaline is characterized by anticonvulsive, anxiolytic and analgesic effects. Pregabaline does not bind to plasmatic proteins and nearly unchanged is excreted into urine. An advantage of pregabaline is a linearly increasing effect during increasing dosage of drug. The main indication of pregabaline is neuropathic pain. The next indications are partial epileptic seizures, generalized anxiety disorder, lower back pain associated with neuropathic pain. Pregabaline is very well tolerated. Among undesirable adverse events there are dizziness, somnolence, ataxia, oedemas, weight increase.

Keywords: voltage gated calcium channels, anticonvulsive and analgesic effects, neuropathic pain, partial epileptic seizures, dizziness, oedemas.