Lyrica (Pregabalin) and Alcohol Use
Do not drink alcohol while taking Lyrica (pregabalin), as the combination significantly increases the risk of dizziness, drowsiness, and serious breathing problems. 1
FDA-Mandated Warning
The FDA drug label for pregabalin explicitly states that patients should avoid alcohol consumption while on this medication. 1 The combination produces additive central nervous system (CNS) depression, amplifying side effects including:
- Enhanced sedation and drowsiness 1
- Increased dizziness 1
- Serious breathing problems (respiratory depression) 1
- Impaired psychomotor performance 2
Mechanism of Interaction
Pregabalin and alcohol both act as CNS depressants, creating an additive effect when combined. 1 This pharmacodynamic interaction occurs because:
- Pregabalin reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release and increases postsynaptic inhibition 3
- Alcohol enhances GABAergic inhibition and depresses CNS function 2
- When combined, these mechanisms synergistically impair cognitive function, motor coordination, and respiratory drive 1, 2
Clinical Evidence of Harm
Research demonstrates that even small quantities of alcohol combined with CNS depressants produce significant impairment. 2 A controlled study examining benzodiazepines (a similar CNS depressant class) with low-dose alcohol showed:
- Significant psychomotor impairment on performance testing 2
- Paradoxical anxiogenic effects (increased anxiety) when drugs were combined, despite both having anxiolytic properties individually 2
- Additive sedative effects that exceeded either substance alone 2
Real-World Patient Behavior
Despite receiving counseling about alcohol-drug interactions, approximately 25% of patients taking psychotropic medications report consuming alcohol and experiencing serious adverse effects. 4 These self-reported consequences included:
This data underscores that the warning against alcohol is not theoretical—real harm occurs when patients ignore this advice. 4
Additional Risk with Opioids and Other CNS Depressants
If you are taking pregabalin with opioid pain medications (such as oxycodone), anxiety medications (such as lorazepam), or sleep medications (such as zolpidem), adding alcohol exponentially increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression. 1 The FDA specifically warns that combining pregabalin with these medications already increases the risk of:
Adding alcohol to this combination creates a dangerous polypharmacy scenario. 5, 6
Clinical Guideline Context
Sleep medicine guidelines emphasize that all sedative-hypnotics and CNS depressants have additive effects on psychomotor performance when combined with alcohol. 5 This principle applies universally to medications like pregabalin that depress CNS function. 5
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not assume "just one drink" is safe—even small amounts of alcohol (as little as 6.5 grams) combined with CNS depressants produce measurable impairment 2
- Do not drive or operate machinery if you have consumed any alcohol while taking pregabalin, as the combination severely impairs reaction time and coordination 1, 2
- Do not combine pregabalin with other sedating medications and alcohol simultaneously—this creates a multiplicative risk of respiratory depression 1
What to Do If You Have Consumed Alcohol
If you have already consumed alcohol while taking pregabalin and experience:
- Severe drowsiness or difficulty staying awake 1
- Slowed or difficult breathing 1
- Confusion or inability to think clearly 1
- Difficulty walking or severe dizziness 1
Seek immediate medical attention or call poison control. 1 These symptoms may indicate dangerous CNS depression requiring emergency intervention.
Bottom Line
The safest approach is complete abstinence from alcohol while taking pregabalin. 1 There is no established "safe" level of alcohol consumption with this medication, and the FDA explicitly instructs patients to avoid this combination entirely. 1