Pregabalin, a new low-cost drug under the radar of health authorities

Are we witnessing the advent of a new “poor man’s drug”? For almost a year now, health authorities have been concerned about the growing popularity of the misuse of one drug: pregabalin.

Better known under the name of Lyrica, the trade name used by the general public, pregabalin is “a drug that is widely prescribed in France in three indications,” according to Dr. Jean-Pierre Thierry, health advisor for BFM TV.

The latter specifies that the three cases of drug prescriptions are intended for “neuropathic pain, that is, for example after shingles or in diabetics, for certain forms of epilepsy and more recently for generalized anxiety disorders”, explains the doctor.

However, Lyrica pills are becoming increasingly popular in some party circles for their disinhibiting effect. “The effects are variable. For some people this can produce some excitement and therefore float a bit, this is the effect that is sometimes sought in young people”, analyzes Dr. Thierry.

€2 to €3 per pill

However, BFM TV’s health advisor warns against misusing Lyrica, especially when taken in high doses and combined with other potentially toxic medicinal substances.

“It has a rather calming effect, so drowsiness may occur when combined with other products such as opioids or benzodiazepines. And there, in fact, the risk of overdose increases”, warns Dr. Jean-Pierre Thierry.

The popularity of this new drug is also explained by its very low price. If the box can be sold for an estimated amount between €5 and €20, a tablet can be resold for two or three euros each. An economic advantage that only benefits the illegal trafficking of this drug, which is spreading especially in large cities such as Marseille or Toulouse.

To stop the spread of this new drug, the National Agency for Medicines Safety (ANSM) tightened the conditions for access to Lyrica in May 2021. Now it is necessary to present a safe prescription issued by a doctor, that is, a prescription written on paper classified as inviolable. A precaution that does not seem to stop the misuse of pregabalin.