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pregabalin Side Effects

Also known as: Lyrica

Analysis of 264,092 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2004 to 2025.

Total Reports

264,092

Death-Related

21,160

8.0% of reports

Hospitalizations

74,751

28.3% of reports

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE
26,491
PAIN
25,902
FATIGUE
15,112
DIZZINESS
14,524
NAUSEA
14,053
OFF LABEL USE
13,249
HEADACHE
12,683
MALAISE
12,591
SOMNOLENCE
11,567
WEIGHT INCREASED
11,412
PAIN IN EXTREMITY
11,190
FALL
10,780
DYSPNOEA
10,092
DIARRHOEA
9,835
INSOMNIA
9,547
ARTHRALGIA
9,268
VOMITING
8,827
FEELING ABNORMAL
8,820
CONDITION AGGRAVATED
8,485
GAIT DISTURBANCE
7,901

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 158,869 (65%)
Male 82,326 (34%)
Unknown 1,709

Age Distribution

0-17 2,880 (2%)
18-44 31,170 (18%)
45-64 71,463 (42%)
65-74 35,725 (21%)
75+ 29,631 (17%)

Reporting Trend by Year

2004 2025

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 21,160 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
DEATH 5,335
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS 2,847
FATIGUE 1,626
COMPLETED SUICIDE 1,529
PYREXIA 1,528
PNEUMONIA 1,526
OFF LABEL USE 1,523
VOMITING 1,520
DYSPNOEA 1,425
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION 1,359
DIARRHOEA 1,315
NAUSEA 1,285
MALAISE 1,257
PAIN 1,242
DECREASED APPETITE 1,166
HYPERTENSION 1,166
HEADACHE 1,134
OVERDOSE 1,123
ASTHENIA 1,107
PRURITUS 1,080

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 74,751 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
PAIN 6,244
FALL 5,541
NAUSEA 5,260
FATIGUE 5,252
PNEUMONIA 5,032
DYSPNOEA 4,892
DRUG INEFFECTIVE 4,596
VOMITING 4,584
MALAISE 4,466
OFF LABEL USE 4,380
HEADACHE 4,313
PYREXIA 4,245
DIARRHOEA 4,221
DIZZINESS 3,996
ASTHENIA 3,859
CONFUSIONAL STATE 3,493
ARTHRALGIA 3,141
PAIN IN EXTREMITY 3,132
CONDITION AGGRAVATED 3,004
SOMNOLENCE 2,988

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What the FAERS Data Reveals About pregabalin Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 264,092 voluntary reports linked to pregabalin and its brand equivalents (Lyrica), spanning 2004 through 2025. Of those, 21,160 (8.0%) listed death as an outcome and 74,751 (28.3%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 65% were female and 34% male; age distribution skews toward 45-64, with 71,463 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 26,491 submissions, followed by pain and fatigue.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.