Can you drink alcohol while taking pregabalin?
It’s generally advised to avoid alcohol while you’re taking pregabalin. Alcohol and pregabalin both depress the central nervous system, which can make side effects worse and increase the risk of dangerous sedation and slowed breathing.
What can happen if you mix pregabalin and alcohol?
Combining them can increase the likelihood of:
- marked drowsiness or dizziness
- impaired coordination and judgment (raising fall and accident risk)
- confusion
- slower or difficult breathing, especially at higher doses or in people with breathing problems
How risky is it?
Risk depends on dose, how much alcohol you drink, and your health. The risk is higher if you:
- take other medications that also cause sedation (for example, opioids, benzodiazepines, some sleep or anxiety medicines)
- have sleep apnea or chronic lung disease
- drink heavily or binge drink
- are new to pregabalin or still adjusting doses
What do clinicians usually recommend?
Most prescribing instructions advise not to drink alcohol while taking pregabalin, or to keep alcohol to a minimum and only with your prescriber’s OK. If your doctor has told you it’s acceptable, follow their guidance for how much and how often.
If you’ve already had alcohol, what should you do?
If you feel unusually sleepy, dizzy, confused, have trouble staying awake, or have slow/shallow breathing, seek urgent medical help. If you only had a small amount and feel fine, it still matters for future doses: don’t take another sedating dose of pregabalin while intoxicated, and contact your prescriber for individualized advice.
When to get urgent help
Get emergency care right away if there are signs of severe sedation or breathing problems, such as:
- trouble breathing
- you cannot stay awake
- bluish lips or fingertips
- repeated vomiting, fainting, or severe confusion
Sources
No drug-specific sources were provided with your question, so I can’t cite authoritative references here. If you share your country (or a link/photo of your pregabalin label) and the dose you take, I can tailor the guidance to the exact wording on your medicine information leaflet.