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

Pregabalin was registered in Australia in 2005 as a Schedule 4 medicine for treatment of neuropathic pain and epilepsy; listed for subsidy on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2013 for neuropathic pain; and in 2016-2017 was the sixth most prescribed subsidised drug in Australia. 

Doctors hand it out readily without being aware of its potential for abuse, withdrawals and life threatening side effects, especially to our elderly. 

Not only is this medication a concern for abuse, but it’s being over prescribed for long lengths of time at high doses for our elderly population. This is due to prescribers not being educated enough and having the ability to prescribe relatively freely. 

I lost my best friend, my beautiful grand mother to this drug. The side effects she endured for months with no clear answers come back to this drug. She suffered with water retention, AF, weakness, confusion and vision impairment. Unfortunately, LYRICA took her from us after enduring kidney failure and LYRICA poisoning in the brain. 

I believe this medication should be removed from the prescribing list. If that can’t be done, for severe medical purposes only, at minimum managed as an S8. This medication needs to be monitored more, prescribers need to be educated on the effects and the patients need to be aware of the medicine they are putting into their body. 

Please help me, help me make a change in the world. Even if I save just one persons life.. I couldn’t save my angels, but maybe someone else’s. 

💜 In loving memory of Glenda Rice 💜