Lyrica® (
pregabalin) is commonly prescribed for the treatment of several conditions, including
epilepsy. Specifically, the drug is approved to be used along with other
seizure medications to treat partial
seizures (it is not approved to be used alone for this use). Epilepsy is a condition that occurs when there are sudden, brief changes in how the brain's electrical system works, which can lead to a seizure.
Using Lyrica for
epilepsy treatment was evaluated in three clinical studies. The people evaluated in these trials had partial seizures, were already taking one to three other seizure medications, and had seizures that were not adequately controlled. Depending on the dose, people who added Lyrica to their existing seizure medications decreased their number of seizures per month by up to 51 percent.
Although it is not exactly clear how Lyrica works for epilepsy, it is believed to affect specific
calcium channels in the brain.
(Click Lyrica Uses for a more in-depth look at treating epilepsy with Lyrica. This article also discusses how the drug works and offers information on other possible uses, including off-label uses.)
