Can you drink alcohol while taking Lyrica (pregabalin)?
Lyrica (pregabalin) can cause side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness, which can be made worse by alcohol. Drinking alcohol while on Lyrica increases the risk of feeling very sleepy, having poor coordination, and possibly falling or driving unsafely. Alcohol can also worsen impairment in thinking and reaction time.
Because these effects overlap, the safest approach is usually to avoid alcohol or keep it to none, especially when you are first starting Lyrica, when your dose is being increased, or if you notice any sedation.
What happens if you drink anyway?
Mixing alcohol with Lyrica can lead to stronger central nervous system effects—more sedation and impaired coordination than either one alone. That can raise practical safety risks (falls, accidents) and can also make it harder to judge how alert you are.
If you choose to drink, doing so tends to mean higher risk rather than a “safe” combination, and you should avoid activities that require full alertness (driving, operating machinery) until you know how the combination affects you.
When is the risk highest?
The risk is typically highest:
- Early in treatment or soon after a dose increase, when sedation/dizziness are more likely.
- If you already feel sleepy, dizzy, or unsteady on Lyrica.
- If you take other medicines that cause drowsiness (for example, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other sedating drugs), since the combined effect can be stronger.
What do you tell patients who want a “clear yes or no”?
A clear, practical guidance is: it is best not to drink alcohol while taking Lyrica, particularly during the start-up and dose-adjustment period. If someone still drinks, they should assume the sedation and impairment risk is higher and avoid driving or hazardous tasks.
Are there safer alternatives?
If alcohol is a concern (sleep, pain control, mood, or avoiding side effects), sticking to non-alcohol options is the simplest way to avoid the interaction risk. If the reason for drinking is sleep, anxiety, or pain, it’s better to discuss those symptoms with a clinician so treatment can be adjusted safely.
Get medical advice urgently if…
Seek urgent medical help if alcohol plus Lyrica leads to severe drowsiness, trouble staying awake, confusion, fainting, slowed breathing, or falls/injury.
Sources
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