What is the active ingredient of the medicine Lyrica?

Lyrica is the brand name for the medication pregabalin. Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant and anxiolytic drug used to treat neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, and as an adjunctive therapy for partial seizures. It functions by binding to the alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels within the central nervous system. This binding action reduces the release of several excitatory neurotransmitters, including glutamate, norepinephrine, and substance P, which contributes to its analgesic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects.

A. Tramadol is the active ingredient in medications like Ultram and ConZip; it is an opioid analgesic.

B. Digoxin is the active ingredient in Lanoxin, a cardiac glycoside used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

C. Valproate (valproic acid) is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer, the active ingredient in drugs like Depakene and Depakote.

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2023). LYRICA (pregabalin) capsules

oral solution

and extended-release tablets

for oral use. Prescribing Information. Pfizer Inc. Retrieved from the FDA database. (See Section 11: Description

which states

"The active ingredient is pregabalin...")

2. McKeage

K.

& Keam

S. J. (2009). Pregabalin: in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Clinical drug investigation

29(6)

421–433. https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200929060-00006 (See Abstract

which identifies pregabalin as the active agent).

3. Katzung

B. G.

& Vanderah

T. W. (2021). Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (15th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. (See Chapter 24: Antiseizure Drugs

section on Gabapentin and Pregabalin).

4. Gajraj

N. M. (2007). Pregabalin: its pharmacology and use in pain management. Anesthesia and analgesia

105(6)

1805–1815. https://doi.org/10.1213/01.ane.0000287643.13411.54 (See Introduction

paragraph 1

which states

"Pregabalin (Lyrica®; Pfizer

New York

NY) is a structural analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)...").