Pfizer's Blockbuster Painkiller Lyrica Linked to Multiple Deaths, Reclassified as UK Class C Controlled Substance

Following dozens of deaths in Northern Ireland linked to Pfizer’s Lyrica (pregabalin), the prescription drug pregabalin will be reclassified as a Class C controlled substance in the United Kingdom starting April 1. This means that possession of pregabalin without a prescription is illegal, with a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession. Unauthorized sale or supply of the drug by relevant entities will carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.

Pregabalin, marketed by Pfizer, is the world’s best-selling analgesic, with global sales of $5.1 billion in 2017, including $3.46 billion from the U.S. market. Lyrica was approved for marketing in the United States in December 2004 and was named one of “Time” magazine’s “Top 10 of 2007.”Medicineone of the advances.” Pregabalin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog with antiepileptic, analgesic, and anxiolytic activities. Currently, the drug has been approved for indications including postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia syndrome, neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury, and partial-onset seizures in adult patients. However, it may lead to severe drug dependence, a side effect linked to as many as 33 deaths in Northern Ireland in 2018.

Many patients taking pregabalin for pain relief have reported significant side effects. Patients with depression may struggle intensely to suppress suicidal thoughts after starting the medication, while those suffering from pain may develop suicidal ideation. Studies have confirmed that pregabalin doubles the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A considerable number of individuals have stated, “I seem to have become addicted to Lyrica; I can’t do without it. I’m taking larger doses more frequently, leading to a repetitive, long-term, compulsive pattern of continued use despite adverse consequences, which is non-therapeutic in nature.”

As pregabalin is a prescription medication and cannot be purchased casually, individuals with addiction issues must resort to alternative channels to obtain the drug. According to data from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), parcels containing this medication ordered by patients in Northern Ireland are frequently intercepted in large quantities at airports in England by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and UK Border Force.

Deaths associated with this prescription medication have been rising year by year. In 2016, eight drug-related deaths in Ireland were linked to Lyrica abuse. Starting in 2017, fatal overdoses increased significantly, with the number of deaths quadrupling. Consequently, supported by public consultations and recommendations issued by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the United Kingdom enacted new legislation that took effect on Monday (April 1), classifying pregabalin as a Class C controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Northern Ireland currently has the highest pregabalin prescription rate in the UK, and its illicit drug market is also growing. The charity Extern is publishing a new guide aimed at reducing the risk of death and harm among people who misuse pregabalin. Chris Rintoul from Extern’s Drug and Alcohol Services told the media: “In an ideal world, pregabalin would only be used as a prescribed treatment. Unfortunately, even with the new legislation introduced in the UK today, the reality is that thousands of patients in Northern Ireland, and even more globally, will continue to use this drug without a prescription or beyond prescribed limits. Therefore, it is crucial that, as a society, we make every effort to minimize the risk of harm to these individuals.”

Regulatory authorities will also implement stricter control measures to ensure accountability and minimize the risk of pregabalin falling into the hands of criminals or being stockpiled by patients. Furthermore, regulations stipulate that pregabalin prescriptions shall be limited to a 30-day treatment course, repeat prescriptions for the same patient will not be issued, and any prescription received must be fulfilled within 28 days. (Sina)Pharmaceuticals(Compiled by Fan Dongdong, Edited by Kerr)

Reference sources for the article:

1、Lyrica reclassified after being linked to 33 deaths

2、Pregabalin/Lyrica reclassified to a class C drug

Source: Sina Pharmaceutical News Author: Fan Dongdong