Two medicines, side by side
Pregabalin vs clonazepam
Pregabalin and clonazepam are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of pregabalin since 2004 and of clonazepam since 1975. Pharmacies paid $0.0571 per pregabalin 100 mg capsule and $0.0244 per clonazepam 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the clonazepam label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the pregabalin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2025); the clonazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025).
Highlights of the pregabalin record
Pregabalin (Lyrica) · label of April 15, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsLYRICA is indicated for: • Management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy • Management of postherpetic neuralgia • Adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial‑onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older • Management of fibromyalgia • Management of neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury LYRICA is indicated for: • Neuropathic pain associated with diabetic […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 52 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0571 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the clonazepam record
Clonazepam (Klonopin) · label of December 1, 2025
RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS; ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION; and DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Used for
From the label: indicationsSeizure Disorders Klonopin is useful alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic, and myoclonic seizures. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, Klonopin may be useful. Some loss of effect may occur during the course of clonazepam treatment (see PRECAUTIONS: Loss of Effect ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 4, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0244 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Pregabalin label of April 15, 2025, Clonazepam label of December 1, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do pregabalin and clonazepam differ on the record?
Only the clonazepam label carries a boxed warning.
Half-life, in each label's words: Pregabalin, “12.3 Pharmacokinetics Pregabalin is well absorbed after oral administration, is eliminated largely by renal excretion …”; Clonazepam, “The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours.”
Generics: pregabalin since 2019; clonazepam since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: pregabalin CV; clonazepam CIV.
| Pregabalin | Clonazepam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy | Seizures and epilepsy, Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Benzodiazepine |
| How it works (label) | LYRICA (pregabalin) binds with high affinity to the alpha 2 -delta site (an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Pregabalin is well absorbed after oral administration, is eliminated largely by renal excretion, and has an elimination half-life of about 6 hours. | The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 30, 2004 | June 4, 1975 |
| First generic approved | July 19, 2019 | September 10, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 52 labelers | 31 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0571 per capsule (Pregabalin 100 mg capsule) | $0.0244 per tablet (Clonazepam 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -15% | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 270,624 | 159,283 |
| DEA schedule | CV | CIV |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to pregabalin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions