Pregabalin: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Analgesic

Also known as

Lyrica, Pregaba, Maxgalin, Pregabid

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats and Horses

General dose range

2–4 mg/kg PO q8–12h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Chronic/neuropathic pain (e.g. intervertebral disc disease, osteoarthritis adjunct, syringomyelia)
• Refractory epilepsy — adjunctive anticonvulsant
• Feline situational anxiety / fear-reducing pre-visit medication and to aid handling
• Multimodal analgesia

Pregabalin dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Seizure adjunct: Papich 5e: anticonvulsant 2 mg/kg q8h PO, increasing gradually to the maximum tolerated 3–4 mg/kg. Plumb’s p.1000: start 2 mg/kg q8–12h and increase by 1 mg/kg/dose each week to 3–4 mg/kg q8h (Munana 2010; Mariani 2010). Sedation is the main side effect; taper to stop.
• Neuropathic pain: Papich 5e: start 4–5 mg/kg q12h PO and increase gradually if necessary. Plumb’s p.1000 (Salazar 2009): 4 mg/kg PO twice daily reaches human therapeutic plasma levels.

Cats

• Situational anxiety / handling (single pre-visit dose): Product label (pregabalin 50 mg/mL oral solution for cats): 5 mg/kg PO about 1.5 h before transport or a veterinary visit. Plumb’s 10e p.1065 (extra-label): anxiolytic for carrier transportation 5–10 mg/kg PO 90 minutes before transport (study used the oral solution; anxiolysis at veterinary visits was not assessed). Papich 5e gives no anxiolytic dose. Sedation and ataxia possible; reduce in renal disease.
• Chronic pain / epilepsy adjunct: Plumb’s p.1000: 1–2 mg/kg PO q12h is the usual starting dose (Munana 2010; Cautela 2009). Plumb’s 10e p.1065: seizure disorders 1–2 mg/kg PO q12h (anecdotal, supported by a single-dose PK study); neuropathic pain 1 mg/kg PO q8–12h, or 3 mg/kg q12h from a case report. Papich 5e: start 2 mg/kg q12h, increasing to 4 mg/kg q12h. Reduce in renal disease.

Horses

• Neuropathic pain: Papich 5e: horses 4 mg/kg PO q8h.

Contraindications

Significant renal impairment (accumulation — reduce dose/interval). Abrupt discontinuation after chronic use (taper to avoid rebound/withdrawal/seizures). Known hypersensitivity. Caution with other CNS depressants.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Renally excreted — older cats with CKD accumulate the drug; lower the dose and watch for excessive sedation/ataxia.

Adverse effects

• Sedation and ataxia (dose-related, often transient)
• Mild hindlimb weakness/wobbliness
• Occasional GI upset
• Weight gain / increased appetite on chronic use

Drug interactions

• Other CNS depressants (opioids, benzodiazepines, anaesthetics): additive sedation
• No significant hepatic metabolism / CYP interactions (renally cleared)
• Caution combining with gabapentin (overlapping effect)

Pregnancy and lactation

Safety not established in veterinary pregnancy; teratogenicity seen in some lab-animal studies — use only if benefits outweigh risks.

Monitoring

• Sedation/ataxia — titrate dose accordingly
• Renal function (dose adjustment), especially in cats
• Pain/seizure/anxiety response to guide titration
• Taper when discontinuing chronic therapy

Toxicity and overdose

Wide margin; overdose mainly causes pronounced sedation, ataxia and weakness. Serious toxicity is uncommon, but accumulation occurs in renal failure. Not associated with the organ toxicity of classic NSAIDs.

Management: Supportive — confinement to prevent injury from ataxia, IV fluids to support renal clearance, monitor and protect airway if heavily sedated. No specific antidote; effects resolve as the drug is excreted. Decontaminate if a large recent ingestion.

Clinical pearls

• More predictable absorption and twice-daily dosing make pregabalin a tidy upgrade from gabapentin for neuropathic pain
• A single pre-visit dose markedly reduces fear/aggression in cats — excellent for stress-free handling
• Always reduce the dose in renal-impaired patients (most geriatric cats) to avoid over-sedation
• Start low and titrate; warn owners that early wobbliness/sleepiness usually settles
• Do not stop abruptly after long-term use — taper to avoid rebound pain or seizures

Mechanism of action

Binds the α2-δ auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels in CNS neurons, reducing calcium influx and the release of excitatory neurotransmitters (glutamate, substance P, noradrenaline, CGRP). This dampens neuronal hyperexcitability underlying neuropathic pain, seizures and anxiety. Despite structural similarity to GABA it does not act on GABA receptors.

Formulations and products

• 25 mg capsule
• 50 mg capsule
• 75 mg capsule
• 100 / 150 mg capsule
• Oral solution 20 mg/mL
• Lyrica — 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 150 mg capsule, Capsule (human-label)
• Maxgalin — 50 / 75 / 150 mg capsule, Capsule (human-label)
• Pregaba / Pregabid — 50 / 75 mg capsule, Capsule (human-label)

Storage

Capsules/solution: 15–30 °C, dry. (A controlled/scheduled substance in some jurisdictions — store per local law.)

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other analgesics

• Morphine Sulfate
• Nalbuphine
• Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
• Pethidine (Meperidine)
• Tramadol

Frequently asked questions