Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Angioedema
Advise patients that pregabalin capsules may cause angioedema, with swelling of the face, mouth (lip, gum, tongue) and neck (larynx and pharynx) that can lead to life-threatening respiratory compromise. Instruct patients to discontinue pregabalin capsules and immediately seek medical care if they experience these symptoms
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
.
Hypersensitivity
Advise patients that pregabalin capsules has been associated with hypersensitivity reactions such as wheezing, dyspnea, rash, hives, and blisters. Instruct patients to discontinue pregabalin capsules and immediately seek medical care if they experience these symptoms
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.2)
].
Suicidal Thinking and Behavior
Patients, their caregivers, and families should be counseled that AEDs, including pregabalin capsules, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm. Report behaviors of concern immediately to healthcare providers
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
.
Respiratory Depression
Inform patients about the risk of respiratory depression. Include information that the risk is greatest for those using concomitant central nervous system (CNS) depressants (such as opioid analgesics) or in those with underlying respiratory impairment. Teach patients how to recognize respiratory depression and advise them to seek medical attention immediately if it occurs
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
Dizziness and Somnolence
Counsel patients that pregabalin capsules may cause dizziness, somnolence, blurred vision and other CNS signs and symptoms. Accordingly, advise patients not to drive, operate complex machinery, or engage in other hazardous activities until they have gained sufficient experience on pregabalin to gauge whether or not it affects their mental, visual, and/or motor performance adversely
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
.
CNS Depressants
Inform patients who require concomitant treatment with central nervous system depressants such as opiates or benzodiazepines that they may experience additive CNS side effects, such as respiratory depression, somnolence, and dizziness
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.4, 5.5) and
Drug Interactions (7)].
Advise patients to avoid consuming alcohol while taking pregabalin capsules, as pregabalin capsules may potentiate the impairment of motor skills and sedating effects of alcohol.
Adverse Reactions with Abrupt or Rapid Discontinuation
Advise patients to take pregabalin capsules as prescribed. Abrupt or rapid discontinuation may result in increased seizure frequency in patients with seizure disorders, and insomnia, nausea, headache, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, or diarrhea
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.6)].
Missed Dose
Counsel patients if they miss a dose, they should take it as soon as they remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, they should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at their regularly scheduled time. Instruct patients not to take two doses at the same time.
Weight Gain and Edema
Counsel patients that pregabalin capsules may cause edema and weight gain. Advise patients that concomitant treatment with pregabalin and a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic agent may lead to an additive effect on edema and weight gain. For patients with preexisting cardiac conditions, this may increase the risk of heart failure
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.7,
5.8)]
.
Ophthalmological Effects
Counsel patients that pregabalin capsules may cause visual disturbances. Inform patients that if changes in vision occur, they should notify their physician
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.10)]
.
Creatine Kinase Elevations
Instruct patients to promptly report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.11)]
.
Pregnancy
There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to pregabalin during pregnancy
[see
Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]
.
Lactation
Advise nursing mothers that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with pregabalin
[see
Use in Specific Populations (8.2)]
.
Male Fertility
Inform men being treated with pregabalin who plan to father a child of the potential risk of male-mediated teratogenicity. In preclinical studies in rats, pregabalin was associated with an increased risk of male-mediated teratogenicity. The clinical significance of this finding is uncertain
[see
Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1) and
Use in Specific populations (8.3)]
.
Dermatopathy
Instruct diabetic patients to pay particular attention to skin integrity while being treated with pregabalin and to inform their healthcare provider about any sores or skin problems. Some animals treated with pregabalin developed skin ulcerations, although no increased incidence of skin lesions associated with pregabalin was observed in clinical trials
[see
Nonclinical Toxicology (13.2)]
.
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