commodity chemicals: are chemicals produced in large quantities[1] and in general their applications can be traced back to their chemical structure;[1] for this reason, two commodities produced by two different suppliers but with the same chemical structure and purity are almost identical and they can be easily interchanged;[1] they are produced by continuous plant and in general their cost is relatively low; examples of chemical commodities are ammonia and ethylene oxide;

speciality chemicals (or specialty chemicals): are constituted by a mixture of different chemical substances, that is designed and produced in order to be applied to a specific application;the formulation of specialities is the result of scientific researches carried out by the producer company, so each formulation and associated properties are unique and for this reason in the majority of the cases it is not possible to easily interchange two different specialities produced by two different suppliers; examples of applications of speciality chemicals are pharmaceuticals industry and agriculture; they are produced by batch plant and in general their cost is higher if compared with commodity chemicals;

Fine chemicals: as the commodity chemicals, they are chemical substances characterized by their chemical structure, but, on the contrary of commodity chemicals, they are produced in a small quantity; fine chemicals can be used as components in the formulation of speciality chemicals;for example active ingredients of pharmaceutical drugs are fine chemicals, but the pharmaceutical drug is a speciality chemical; examples of applications of fine chemicals are: pharmaceuticals industry, agriculture, photography chemicals and electronic chemicals;they are produced by batch plant and in general their cost is relatively high.

Kline matrix

Kline matrix was presented for the first time in 1970 by Charles Howard Kline.[5] It is a more detailed classification of the previous one, that distinguished chemical commodities into two subclasses, called respectively "true commodities" and "pseudocommodities". In general the classification of chemical industry products by the Kline matrix is related to the chemicals' worldwide production (measured for example in tons/year) and to their value added.[6]

Following this classification, the chemical industry products are divided into four categories:

Basic chemicals

The concept of basic chemicals is very close to chemical commodities. In fact basic chemicals are chemical substances used as a starting material for the production of a wide variety of other chemicals; for this reason they are in general commodities, because they are highly demanded. Some examples of basic chemicals are: ethylene, benzene, chlorine and sulfuric acid.

High production volume chemical

High Production Volume (HPV) Chemicals is another commercial classification of chemical substances very close to chemical commodities. This categories is used in US and includes all the chemicals produced or imported by US in an amount higher than 1 million pounds.

It is supposed that the number of commercialized chemical products is around 70,000 and around 5% of them are High production volume chemicals.

It is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial and household chemicals and is a common ingredient in chemicals such as antiseptics, disinfectants, and detergents.

Uses

One of the small scale uses of isopropanol is in cloud chambers. Isopropanol has ideal physical and chemical properties to form a supersaturated layer of vapor which can be condensed by particles of radiation.

In 1990, 45,000 metric tonnes of isopropyl alcohol were used in the United States, mostly as a solvent for coatings or for industrial processes. In that year, 5400 metric tonnes were used for household purposes and in personal care products. Isopropyl alcohol is popular in particular for pharmaceutical applications, due to its low toxicity. Some isopropyl alcohol is used as a chemical intermediate. Isopropyl alcohol may be converted to acetone, but the cumene process is more significant.

Solvent

Isopropyl alcohol dissolves a wide range of non-polar compounds. It evaporates quickly and the typically available grades tend to not leave behind oil traces when used as a cleaning fluid unlike some other common solvents. It is also relatively non-toxic. Thus, it is used widely as a solvent and as a cleaning fluid, especially for situations where there can be oils or other oil based residues which would not be easily cleaned with water, conveniently evaporating and (depending on water content, and other potential factors) posing less of a risk of corrosion or rusting than plain water. Together with ethanol, n-butanol, and methanol, it belongs to the group of alcohol solvents.

Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used for cleaning eyeglasses, electrical contacts, audio or video tape heads, DVD and other optical disc lenses, removing thermal paste from heatsinks on CPUs and other IC packages.

Intermediate

Isopropyl alcohol is esterified to give isopropyl acetate, another solvent. It reacts with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide to give sodium isopropylxanthate, a herbicide and an ore flotation reagent.20 Isopropyl alcohol reacts with titanium tetrachloride and aluminium metal to give titanium and aluminium isopropoxides, respectively, the former a catalyst, and the latter a chemical reagent. This compound may serve as a chemical reagent in itself, by acting as a dihydrogen donor in transfer hydrogenation.

Medical

Rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting pads typically contain a 60–70% solution of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol in water. Water is required to open up membrane pores of bacteria, which acts as a gateway for isopropyl alcohol. A 75% v/v solution in water may be used as a hand sanitizer.Isopropyl alcohol is used as a water-drying aid for the prevention of otitis externa, better known as swimmer's ear.

Early uses as an anesthetic

Although isopropyl alcohol can be used for anesthesia, its many negative attributes or drawbacks prohibit this use. Isopropyl alcohol can also be used similarly to ether as a solvent or as an anesthetic by inhaling the fumes or orally. Early uses included using the solvent as general anesthetic for small mammals and rodents by scientists and some veterinarians. However, it was soon discontinued, as many complications arose, including respiratory irritation, internal bleeding, and visual and hearing problems. In rare cases, respiratory failure leading to death in animals was observed.

Automotive

Isopropyl alcohol is a major ingredient in "gas dryer" fuel additives. In significant quantities, water is a problem in fuel tanks, as it separates from gasoline and can freeze in the supply lines at low temperatures. Alcohol does not remove water from gasoline, but the alcohol solubilizes water in gasoline. Once soluble, water does not pose the same risk as insoluble water, as it no longer accumulates in the supply lines and freezes but is dissolved within the fuel itself. Isopropyl alcohol is often sold in aerosol cans as a windshield or door lock deicer. Isopropyl alcohol is also used to remove brake fluid traces from hydraulic braking systems, so that the brake fluid (usually DOT 3, DOT 4, or mineral oil) does not contaminate the brake pads and cause poor braking. Mixtures of isopropyl alcohol and water are also commonly used in homemade windshield washer fluid.

Laboratory

As a biological specimen preservative, isopropyl alcohol provides a comparatively non-toxic alternative to formaldehyde and other synthetic preservatives. Isopropyl alcohol solutions of 70–99% are used to preserve specimens.

Isopropyl alcohol is often used in DNA extraction. A lab worker adds it to a DNA solution to precipitate the DNA, which then forms a pellet after centrifugation. This is possible because DNA is insoluble in isopropyl alcohol.

Safety

Isopropyl alcohol vapor is denser than air and is flammable, with a flammability range of between 2 and 12.7% in air. It should be kept away from heat and open flame. Distillation of isopropyl alcohol over magnesium has been reported to form peroxides, which may explode upon concentration.27 Isopropyl alcohol causes eye irritation and is a potential allergen.2829 Wearing protective gloves is recommended.

The 10 largest European speciality chemical companies are BASF, AkzoNobel, Clariant, Evonik, Cognis, Kemira, Lanxess, Rhodia, Wacker and Croda. By definition, speciality chemicals are produced in relatively small quantities but they represent 28 per cent of EU chemical sales.

The 10 largest USA Speciality Chemical Companies are The Lubrizol Corporation, Huntsman, Ashland, Chemtura, Rockwood, Albemarle, Cabot, W. R. Grace, Ferro Corporation, and Cytec Industries.

The emergence of India as a manufacturer and supplier of speciality chemicals has had a major impact on the Global speciality chemical industry. In India the many speciality chemical companies are members of national organisations such as the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) and the Indian Speciality Chemical Manufacturers' Association (ISCMA). The wide capability of these companies extends into all sectors and sub-sectors of the speciality chemical market.

The United Kingdom has 1300 speciality chemical companies and which have an annual turnover of £11.2 billion.The products of these UK companies are sold globally and contribute significantly to the UKs export trade. With over £30 billion of exports the chemical industry is the last remaining net-exporting manufacturing industry in the UK and Speciality Chemicals make up a significant proportion of this. The products include dyestuffs, paints, explosives, adhesives, flavors and fragrances, photographic chemicals, unrecorded media and various industrial specialities. As Speciality Chemical manufacturers, unlike commodity chemical manufacturers, are less dependent on large scale infrastructure, therefore Speciality Chemical companies can be found in almost all regions of the UK. Some 80% of the United Kingdom Chemical industry is based in the north of the country and consequently there are concentrations of Speciality Chemical companies in Yorkshire, and in the membership of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC).

The global speciality chemical market

In 2011 the Global Specialty Chemicals market had total revenues of $767.5 billion and it is reported that it had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7% between 2007 and 2011. The market is further projected to reach $980 billion by the end of 2016. These speciality products are marketed as pesticides, speciality polymers, electronic chemicals, surfactants, construction chemicals, Industrial Cleaners, flavors and fragrances, speciality coatings, printing inks, water-soluble polymers, food additives, paper chemicals, oil field chemicals, plastic adhesives, adhesives and sealants, cosmetic chemicals, water management chemicals, catalysts, textile chemicals.

The world's top five specialty chemicals segments in 2012 were specialty polymers, industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaners, construction chemicals, electronic chemicals, and flavors and fragrances. These segments had a market share of about 36% The ten largest segments accounted for 62% of total annual specialty chemicals sales.

Great effort is being put in shrinking the analysis techniques to chip size. Although there are few examples of such systems competitive with traditional analysis techniques, potential advantages include size/portability, speed, and cost. (micro total analysis system (µTAS) or lab-on-a-chip). Microscale chemistry reduces the amounts of chemicals used.

Many developments improve the analysis of biological systems. Examples of rapidly expanding fields in this area are genomics, DNA sequencing and related research in genetic fingerprinting and DNA microarray; proteomics, the analysis of protein concentrations and modifications, especially in response to various stressors, at various developmental stages, or in various parts of the body, metabolomics, which deals with metabolites; transcriptomics, including mRNA and associated fields; lipidomics - lipids and its associated fields; peptidomics - peptides and its associated fields; and metalomics, dealing with metal concentrations and especially with their binding to proteins and other molecules.

Analytical chemistry has played critical roles in the understanding of basic science to a variety of practical applications, such as biomedical applications, environmental monitoring, quality control of industrial manufacturing, forensic science and so on.

The recent developments of computer automation and information technologies have extended analytical chemistry into a number of new biological fields. For example, automated DNA sequencing machines were the basis to complete human genome projects leading to the birth of genomics. Protein identification and peptide sequencing by mass spectrometry opened a new field of proteomics. In addition to automating specific processes, there is effort to automate larger sections of lab testing, such as in companies like Emerald Cloud Lab and Transcriptic.

Analytical chemistry has been an indispensable area in the development of nanotechnology. Surface characterization instruments, electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes enables scientists to visualize atomic structures with chemical characterizations.

Common side effects include headache, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, trouble with memory, poor coordination, dry mouth, problem with vision, and weight gain. Serious side effects may include angioedema, drug misuse, and an increased suicide risk. When pregabalin is taken at high doses over a long period of time, addiction may occur, but if taken at usual doses the risk is low.Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is of unclear safety.Pregabalin is a gabapentinoid and acts by inhibiting certain calcium channels.

Pregabalin was approved for medical use in the United States in 2004.It was developed as a successor to gabapentin. It is available as a generic medication in a number of countries, including the United States as of 2019. A generic version of the extended-release formulation is available in the United States as of April 2021. In 2019, it was the 81st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 9 million prescriptions.In the US, pregabalin is a Schedule V controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. It is a Class C controlled substance in the UK.

Medical uses

Seizures

Pregabalin is useful when added to other treatments, when those other treatments are not controlling partial epilepsy.[25] Its use alone is less effective than some other seizure medications.[26] It is unclear how it compares to gabapentin for this use.[26]

Neuropathic pain

The European Federation of Neurological Societies recommends pregabalin as a first line agent for the treatment of pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and central neuropathic pain.[27] A minority obtain substantial benefit, and a larger number obtain moderate benefit.[28] It is given equal weight as gabapentin and tricyclic antidepressants as a first line agent, however the latter are less expensive as of 2010.[29] Evidence does not support it being useful in sciatica or low back pain.[30]

Pregabalin's use in cancer-associated neuropathic pain is controversial;[31] though such use is common.[32] There is no evidence for its use in the prevention of migraines and gabapentin has also been found not to be useful.[33] It has been examined for the prevention of post-surgical chronic pain, but its utility for this purpose is controversial.[34][35]

Pregabalin is generally not regarded as efficacious in the treatment of acute pain.[28] In trials examining the utility of pregabalin for the treatment of acute post-surgical pain, no effect on overall pain levels was observed, but people did require less morphine and had fewer opioid-related side effects.[34][36] Several possible mechanisms for pain improvement have been discussed.[37]

Anxiety disorders

Pregabalin is moderately effective and is safe for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.[38] The World Federation of Biological Psychiatry recommends pregabalin as one of several first line agents for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, but recommends other agents such as SSRIs as first line treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.[39] It appears to have anxiolytic effects similar to benzodiazepines with less risk of dependence.[40][41]

The effects of pregabalin appear after one week of use and are similar in effectiveness to lorazepam, alprazolam, and venlafaxine, but pregabalin has demonstrated superiority by producing more consistent therapeutic effects for psychosomatic anxiety symptoms.[42] Long-term trials have shown continued effectiveness without the development of tolerance, and, in addition, unlike benzodiazepines, it has a beneficial effect on sleep and sleep architecture, characterized by the enhancement of slow-wave sleep.[42] It produces less severe cognitive and psychomotor impairment compared to benzodiazepines.

A 2019 review found that pregabalin reduces symptoms, and was generally well tolerated.[38]

Other uses

Evidence finds little benefit and significant risk in those with chronic low back pain.[44][45] Evidence of benefit in alcohol withdrawal as well as withdrawal from certain other drugs is limited as of 2016.46]

Analytical chemistry consists of classical, wet chemical methods and modern, instrumental methods.Classical qualitative methods use separations such as precipitation, extraction, and distillation. Identification may be based on differences in color, odor, melting point, boiling point, solubility, radioactivity or reactivity. Classical quantitative analysis uses mass or volume changes to quantify amount. Instrumental methods may be used to separate samples using chromatography, electrophoresis or field flow fractionation. Then qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed, often with the same instrument and may use light interaction, heat interaction, electric fields or magnetic fields. Often the same instrument can separate, identify and quantify an analyte.

Analytical chemistry is also focused on improvements in experimental design, chemometrics, and the creation of new measurement tools. Analytical chemistry has broad applications to medicine, science and engineering.

Analytical chemistry has been important since the early days of chemistry, providing methods for determining which elements and chemicals are present in the object in question. During this period, significant contributions to analytical chemistry included the development of systematic elemental analysis by Justus von Liebig and systematized organic analysis based on the specific reactions of functional groups.

The first instrumental analysis was flame emissive spectrometry developed by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff who discovered rubidium (Rb) and caesium (Cs) in 1860.

Most of the major developments in analytical chemistry take place after 1900. During this period instrumental analysis becomes progressively dominant in the field. In particular many of the basic spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques were discovered in the early 20th century and refined in the late 20th century.

The separation sciences follow a similar time line of development and also become increasingly transformed into high performance instruments.[5] In the 1970s many of these techniques began to be used together as hybrid techniques to achieve a complete characterization of samples.

Starting in approximately the 1970s into the present day analytical chemistry has progressively become more inclusive of biological questions (bioanalytical chemistry), whereas it had previously been largely focused on inorganic or small organic molecules. Lasers have been increasingly used in chemistry as probes and even to initiate and influence a wide variety of reactions. The late 20th century also saw an expansion of the application of analytical chemistry from somewhat academic chemical questions to forensic, environmental, industrial and medical questions, such as in histology.

Modern analytical chemistry is dominated by instrumental analysis. Many analytical chemists focus on a single type of instrument. Academics tend to either focus on new applications and discoveries or on new methods of analysis. The discovery of a chemical present in blood that increases the risk of cancer would be a discovery that an analytical chemist might be involved in. An effort to develop a new method might involve the use of a tunable laser to increase the specificity and sensitivity of a spectrometric method. Many methods, once developed, are kept purposely static so that data can be compared over long periods of time. This is particularly true in industrial quality assurance (QA), forensic and environmental applications. Analytical chemistry plays an increasingly important role in the pharmaceutical industry where, aside from QA, it is used in discovery of new drug candidates and in clinical applications where understanding the interactions between the drug and the patient are critical.

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It may also be used as a mouth rinse to help remove mucus or to relieve minor mouth irritation (e.g., due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis). This product works by releasing oxygen when it is applied to the affected area. The release of oxygen causes foaming, which helps to remove dead skin and clean the area.This product should not be used to treat deep wounds, animal bites, or serious burns.

How to use Hydrogen Peroxide Solution,

Follow all directions on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not use in the eyes or apply over large areas of skin.

If you are using this product on the skin, clean the affected area before use. Apply a small amount of product on the affected area, usually 1 to 3 times daily or as directed by your doctor. If you apply a bandage after using this product, let the area dry first.

If you are using this product as a mouth rinse, mix with an equal amount of water before using. Swish in the mouth over the affected area for at least 1 minute, then spit out. Do not swallow this product. Rinse up to 4 times daily or as directed by your dentist or doctor.

Use this product regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve in 7 days or if it worsens. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

Side Effects

Redness, stinging, or irritation at the application site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has directed you to use this product, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Stop using this medication and tell your doctor if you have signs of a skin infection (e.g., heat, tenderness, pus).

A very serious allergic reaction to this product is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Key Takeaways: Caustic Soda

Caustic soda is one of the common names for sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

It is also known as lye, although lye may refer to either potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.

Pure caustic soda is sold for making candles or soap.

Impure caustic soda is found in drain cleaner.

Because lye is used to make illegal drugs, it's harder to buy large quantities than in the past. However, small containers are available in stores and online.

Uses of Caustic Soda or Lye

Lye is used for soap making, candle making, homemade biodiesel, frosting glass, making several foods, and for chemistry experiments.

How to Get Caustic Soda or Lye

It's much harder to get hold of lye than it used to be in the past. The main source of caustic soda was Red Devil Lye, but that product is off the market now. Why is it hard to get lye? The reason is because it can be used to control pH during methamphetamine production. There are still a few ways to get the chemical. Make sure the product is 100% sodium hydroxide, lye, or caustic soda. This is especially important if you are making food, since an impure product may contain dangerous contaminants. Sources of lye include:

·Drain cleaner (check the label) - e.g., Roebic Crystal Drain Cleaner, sold at Lowes

·Sodium hydroxide from an online chemical supply store

·Soap-making store

·Candle-making store

·Biodiesel supply store

Be aware, when purchasing caustic soda or lye, you may need to sign a statement that you're not using it for illegal activities. Or, you may not need to sign anything, since a credit card pretty much provides all the details needed to find you if the authorities think you're a rising drug lord.

Helpful Tips

·Since it's relatively hard to get hold of this chemical, you may need to buy in bulk. You may be able to find other people that need the chemical to help split the cost. It's not an expensive item, but you probably don't need several pounds of it.

·Keep the container sealed and away from moisture. Caustic soda absorbs and reacts with water.

·Keep lye away from children and pets. Touching or ingesting it can cause a potentially severe chemical burn.

·Use gloves or utensils to handle caustic soda.

·Perform reactions involving this chemical in a well-ventilated room or outdoors. The reaction releases heat and noxious fumes.

Caustic Soda or Lye Substitutes

Depending on the purpose, you may be able to substitute a chemically similar strong base, potassium hydroxide (KOH). This is a chemical you can, if you are extremely dedicated, make yourself by soaking wood ashes in water. To do this, soak a large quantity of ashes in a small amount of water. Allow about a week for the water to extract the lye. Drain the liquid, which contains potassium hydroxide, filter it, and boil it to concentrate the alkali. Be careful and use gloves when handling the liquid. The project should only be performed outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.

non-flammable liquid, possessing vapor weight more than air. Chloroform possesses a sweet, ether like odor and is insoluble in water. Chloroform is mainly used to produce hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 (HCFC-22) and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymers. Increasing demand for HCFC’s for use in refrigerants and skyrocketing demand for fluoropolymers in the transportation, electrical & electronics, medical, food processing etc. sectors will facilitate the growth of the global Chloroform market in the forecast period. In addition to its versatile industrial uses, Chloroform is also consumed as a solvent in pharma industries and as an anesthetic in medicinal procedures to relax from pain. Chloroform is commonly manufactured by the reaction of Methyl Chloride in the presence of chlorine and is produced as a coproduct with methylene chloride. Chloroform was initially produced by the chlorination of methane, producing hydrogen chloride as the by-product, thereby posing a major challenge among the producers. To resolve this issue, several companies across the globe have started conducting absorption of the released acid over chloromethanes and methyl chloride.

Methodology

ChemAnalyst gathers information through primary research surveys conducted with various Chloroform manufacturers, spread across the domestic and international markets, suppliers and dealers/distributors to gain insights into value-chains and demand-supply scenario to assess the market situation. Thorough study of the company’s annual reports and secondary sources such as exhaustive search on credible paid databases, including our internal database is done to verify the information. All the collected information is analyzed, evaluated and presented in chronological order to depict a meaningful and clear picture of the concerned market.

Our dedicated team of industry experts comprehensively monitors and analyzes various aspects of the Global Chloroform market. The team analyzes various industrial segments, strategic viewpoints and provides an analysis of the industry’s performance in the long run. This would enable our clients in efficiently plan their future investments, mitigate risk, understand the cost dynamics and strike out a balance amidst market volatility.

Critical examination of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global supply chains and shift in demand patterns with change in buying behavior of consumers across the globe.

Several ongoing development projects across industries are tracked, followed by the details of major projects in the development stage, which can positively or negatively influence Global Chloroform market.

Pricing is captured through exhaustive primary interviews with domestic and international manufacturers, traders and importers and customers on monthly and yearly basis.

Finally, region-specific markets for Chloroform are analyzed and region-wise demand pattern is tracked.

Services

MARKET ANALYSIS

Company-wise installed capacity, production volume and plant operating efficiency is captured directly from manufacturers. Import and Export volume is captured from government sources and demand for Chloroform is calculated considering the production, import, export and inventory-levels on the country and regional level markets.

PRICING ANALYSIS

The product price is correlated with the price trend of crude oil, demand-supply gap, fluctuations in the feedstock and with the market movement of the downstream sectors.

Learn More

COMPANY PROFILE

Basic details and information on financial performance of leading global players in the Chloroform market is presented in a visually captivating manner. Expansion plans and the company’s strategy is also captured to understand the vision and mission of the company to help understand the areas where companies need to focus more.

NEWS & DEALS

Daily updates on industry-specific and product-specific news, exclusive primary-based news capturing plant shutdowns/outages/closures, capacity expansions, operating rates, insights on demand-supply situation, awarding of technology licenses, new product launch and deals specifying mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments and disinvestments, to help players capitalize on market opportunity.

Common side effects include headache, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, trouble with memory, poor coordination, dry mouth, problem with vision, and weight gain. Serious side effects may include angioedema, drug misuse, and an increased suicide risk. When pregabalin is taken at high doses over a long period of time, addiction may occur, but if taken at usual doses the risk is low.Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is of unclear safety.Pregabalin is a gabapentinoid and acts by inhibiting certain calcium channels.

Pregabalin was approved for medical use in the United States in 2004.It was developed as a successor to gabapentin. It is available as a generic medication in a number of countries, including the United States as of 2019. A generic version of the extended-release formulation is available in the United States as of April 2021. In 2019, it was the 81st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 9 million prescriptions.In the US, pregabalin is a Schedule V controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. It is a Class C controlled substance in the UK.

Medical uses

Seizures

Pregabalin is useful when added to other treatments, when those other treatments are not controlling partial epilepsy.[25] Its use alone is less effective than some other seizure medications.[26] It is unclear how it compares to gabapentin for this use.[26]

Neuropathic pain

The European Federation of Neurological Societies recommends pregabalin as a first line agent for the treatment of pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and central neuropathic pain.[27] A minority obtain substantial benefit, and a larger number obtain moderate benefit.[28] It is given equal weight as gabapentin and tricyclic antidepressants as a first line agent, however the latter are less expensive as of 2010.[29] Evidence does not support it being useful in sciatica or low back pain.[30]

Pregabalin's use in cancer-associated neuropathic pain is controversial;[31] though such use is common.[32] There is no evidence for its use in the prevention of migraines and gabapentin has also been found not to be useful.[33] It has been examined for the prevention of post-surgical chronic pain, but its utility for this purpose is controversial.[34][35]

Pregabalin is generally not regarded as efficacious in the treatment of acute pain.[28] In trials examining the utility of pregabalin for the treatment of acute post-surgical pain, no effect on overall pain levels was observed, but people did require less morphine and had fewer opioid-related side effects.[34][36] Several possible mechanisms for pain improvement have been discussed.[37]

Anxiety disorders

Pregabalin is moderately effective and is safe for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.[38] The World Federation of Biological Psychiatry recommends pregabalin as one of several first line agents for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, but recommends other agents such as SSRIs as first line treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.[39] It appears to have anxiolytic effects similar to benzodiazepines with less risk of dependence.[40][41]

The effects of pregabalin appear after one week of use and are similar in effectiveness to lorazepam, alprazolam, and venlafaxine, but pregabalin has demonstrated superiority by producing more consistent therapeutic effects for psychosomatic anxiety symptoms.[42] Long-term trials have shown continued effectiveness without the development of tolerance, and, in addition, unlike benzodiazepines, it has a beneficial effect on sleep and sleep architecture, characterized by the enhancement of slow-wave sleep.[42] It produces less severe cognitive and psychomotor impairment compared to benzodiazepines.

A 2019 review found that pregabalin reduces symptoms, and was generally well tolerated.[38]

Other uses

Evidence finds little benefit and significant risk in those with chronic low back pain.[44][45] Evidence of benefit in alcohol withdrawal as well as withdrawal from certain other drugs is limited as of 2016.46]