From the FDA Drug Label
Pregabalin is eliminated from the systemic circulation primarily by renal excretion as unchanged drug with a mean elimination half-life of 6.3 hours in subjects with normal renal function. The half-life of Lyrica (pregabalin) is 6.3 hours in subjects with normal renal function 1.
- Note that the half-life may vary in patients with renal impairment or in pediatric patients.
- In pediatric subjects, the mean half-life is 3 to 4 hours in those up to 6 years of age, and 4 to 6 hours in those 7 years of age and older 1.
From the Research
The half-life of Lyrica (pregabalin) is approximately 6 hours in adults with normal kidney function, as reported in the most recent and highest quality study 2. This means it takes about 6 hours for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body. However, this half-life can be significantly longer in patients with impaired kidney function, potentially extending to 20-30 hours in those with severe renal impairment. The drug is primarily eliminated unchanged through the kidneys, which explains why kidney function has such a strong impact on its clearance rate. Some key points to consider about the pharmacokinetics of Lyrica include:
- Pregabalin is rapidly absorbed following oral administration, with peak plasma concentrations occurring between 0.7 and 1.3 hours 3.
- Pregabalin oral bioavailability is approximately 90% and is independent of dose and frequency of administration 3.
- Food reduces the rate of pregabalin absorption, resulting in lower and delayed maximum plasma concentrations, yet the extent of drug absorption is unaffected 3.
- Pregabalin elimination half-life is approximately 6 hours and steady state is achieved within 1 to 2 days of repeated administration 3.
- Corrected for oral bioavailability, pregabalin plasma clearance is essentially equivalent to renal clearance, indicating that pregabalin undergoes negligible nonrenal elimination 3. For most patients, Lyrica is typically dosed 2-3 times daily due to this half-life, allowing for consistent blood levels of the medication throughout the day. Complete elimination of Lyrica from the body generally takes about 5-6 half-lives, meaning that in patients with normal kidney function, the drug is mostly cleared within 30-38 hours after the last dose. It's also important to consider the impact of renal impairment on pregabalin pharmacokinetics, as the drug's clearance is significantly affected by kidney function 4, 2. In pediatric patients with renal impairment, the maximum dose of pregabalin should be adjusted based on the degree of renal impairment, with lower doses recommended for those with more severe impairment 2.