NutriStack
Alcohol and Pregabalin, a caution.
Pregabalin can cause dizziness, blurred vision, slowed thinking, ataxia, and sedation, and alcohol can intensify these effects. Product pharmacology and safety warnings identify alcohol and other CNS depressants as clinically important risk factors, even though pregabalin has few classic CYP-mediated drug interactions. Risk is highest with higher pregabalin doses, kidney impairment, opioids, benzodiazepines, sleep apnea, lung disease, or older age.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Alcohol and Pregabalin
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Moderate
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Moderate evidence
Caution
What is happening. Pregabalin can cause dizziness, blurred vision, slowed thinking, ataxia, and sedation, and alcohol can intensify these effects. Product pharmacology and safety warnings identify alcohol and other CNS depressants as clinically important risk factors, even though pregabalin has few classic CYP-mediated drug interactions. Risk is highest with higher pregabalin doses, kidney impairment, opioids, benzodiazepines, sleep apnea, lung disease, or older age.
Mechanism. Pregabalin binds alpha-2-delta calcium-channel subunits and reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release; it is not substantially metabolized by CYP enzymes. Alcohol adds CNS-depressant effects through GABA, NMDA, and other pathways, so the concern is pharmacodynamic sedation and respiratory vulnerability.
Recommendation. Avoid alcohol when starting pregabalin or after any dose increase. If your clinician permits occasional alcohol later, keep intake very low and do not drive or take other sedatives. Seek urgent care for severe sleepiness, confusion, shallow breathing, blue lips, or inability to wake.
Sources (2)
- Bockbrader HN, Wesche D, Miller R, Chapel S, Janiczek N, Burger P. A comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pregabalin and gabapentin. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2010;49(10):661-669. PMID 20818832
- Ben-Menachem E. Pregabalin pharmacology and its relevance to clinical practice. Epilepsia. 2004;45 Suppl 6:13-18. PMID 15315511
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alcohol and Pregabalin are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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