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Pregablin (Lyrica): a poison prescription
A complicity of silence in the medical profession of its true nature
In Northern Ireland Lyrica or pregabalin has been linked to 186 deaths and has now been removed from their drug Formulary. This means that due to its potentially poisonous effects, it is no longer available on prescription.
Not so in the rest of the UK, however, where some of our most vulnerable citizens receive it on repeat prescriptions for a variety of anxiety related conditions. It is also prescribed for people suffering with particular types of nerve damage, causing chronic pain. Pfizer first marketed the drug as an anti-convulsant for the treatment of epilepsy. The substantial broadening of its client base have allowed their profits to soar.
How pregabalin works on the brain and nervous system is still not fully understood. Considering the amount of prescriptions issued for the drug, for such a range of issues, this is concerning in itself. However, it acts mainly on the two neurotransmitters, GABA and glutamate. GABA is a ‘nerve calming’ agent that keeps brain activity in balance. Conversely, glutamate is a ‘nerve exciting’ agent that stimulates more nerve cells, and is thought to play a major role in causing epileptic seizures and transmitting pain signals to the brain. The drug acts by promoting the…
