{"id":35019,"date":"2024-03-11T10:03:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T10:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evaggelatos.com\/?p=35019"},"modified":"2024-03-11T14:07:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:07:13","slug":"pregabalin-or-lyrica-and-its-soaring-overdose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evaggelatos.com\/?p=35019","title":{"rendered":"Pregabalin or Lyrica and its soaring overdose and side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An anxiety drug has been linked to soaring overdoses. What\u2019s going on?<\/h1>\n
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Steve Charnock<\/a><\/span><\/span>Published<\/strong> Mar 3, 2024, 3:21pm<\/span>|<\/span>Updated<\/strong> Mar 4, 2024, 10:00am<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/a> \"Pregabalin.\"<\/div>
Pregabalin is prescribed for three very different reasons. But there\u2019s a problem (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Its generic pharmaceutical name is Pregabalin. Although you may know it by one of its brand names: there\u2019s Alzain, Axalid and Lyrica.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a drug that\u2019s prescribed for three very different reasons. As an anticonvulsant used to treat people with epilepsy. It\u2019s also used to alleviate pain. Mostly, however, it\u2019s used to help with anxiety<\/a> and depression<\/a>. That\u2019s quite an impressive CV for a single medication. But there\u2019s a problem. In fact, there\u2019s more than one.<\/p>\n

Firstly, it\u2019s highly addictive.<\/p>\n

When it was originally introduced to the UK market back in 2004, the Pfizer product was heralded as something of a miracle drug; an ideal substitute for the nasty addictive opioids that would go on to cause such horrific problems in the US<\/a>. These claims, it appears, were somewhat wide of the mark.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pfizer\u2019s Pregabalin was approved for use two decades ago but the full extent of its hazards are only just coming to light (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pregabalin was prescribed to more than 8.5 million people in England in 2022 alone, with many people reporting that the medication made their symptoms \u2013 and lives \u2013 noticeably better. However, some medical professionals think that the drug\u2019s hazards aren\u2019t being adequately taken into account and this is causing widespread dependence on the drug.<\/p>\n

Partly due to their efficacy, Pregabalin and other antidepressant prescriptions are increasing, with around a quarter of all patients that receive a prescription getting meds that might well lead to some sort of dependency.<\/p>\n

Prescription rates for Pregabalin and similar drugs are greater in poorer communities, where anxiety and chronic pain are more commonly reported.<\/p>\n

According to medical professionals, people with high levels of anxiety and depression are frequently administered Pregabalin due to difficulties linking therapeutic solutions with those people that need it.<\/p>\n

Basically, if you live in a deprived area, therapy\u2019s difficult to arrange. Pills are not.<\/p>\n

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The over-prescription of addictive anti-depressants is a huge problem (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another, even bigger problem, is death. Rising reports of fatalities are starting to seriously worry the British medical community.<\/p>\n

A recent Sunday Times investigation<\/a> found that Pregabalin had the fastest-rising mortality rate of any drug currently prescribed in the UK. It\u2019s now flagged up in a third of all drug-related fatalities. That is a significant and hugely concerning statistic.<\/p>\n

Back in 2012, Pregabalin was noted on just nine death certificates in the UK. A decade later, that number had climbed to 779. A shocking 3,400 fatalities have been linked to Pregabalin in the past five years.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you been prescribed pregabalin? Email webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n