Pregabalin induced visual hallucinations - a rare adverse reaction

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Pregabalin is a widely prescribed medication for anticonvulsive, analgesic, and anxiolytic purposes.
• Common side effects include dizziness, somnolence, and weight gain.
• Psychiatric side effects are rarely documented in existing literature.

Observation:

• A patient experienced acute visual hallucinations and agitation.
• These psychiatric symptoms emerged following an increase in their pregabalin dosage.
• Symptoms resolved completely upon discontinuation of pregabalin.

Findings:

• This case highlights visual hallucinations as a potential, albeit rare, psychiatric side effect of pregabalin.
• The occurrence of these hallucinations appears dose-dependent, particularly at higher therapeutic levels.
• Gradual tapering of pregabalin led to the complete resolution of observed psychiatric symptoms.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider visual hallucinations in the differential diagnosis for patients on pregabalin, especially with dose escalation.
• Awareness of these rare psychiatric adverse events is crucial for patient safety.
• Tapered discontinuation is an effective strategy for managing pregabalin-induced hallucinations.