{"id":"flunarizine-and-or-pregabalin","rwe":[],"tags":[],"safety":{"boxedWarnings":[],"drugInteractions":[{"drug":"CNS Depressants","interaction":"Increased sedation and respiratory depression"},{"drug":"Alcohol","interaction":"Enhanced CNS depression"}],"commonSideEffects":[{"effect":"Dizziness","drugRate":"15%","severity":"Moderate"},{"effect":"Somnolence","drugRate":"10%","severity":"Moderate"},{"effect":"Peripheral Edema","drugRate":"8%","severity":"Mild"},{"effect":"Weight Gain","drugRate":"5%","severity":"Mild"},{"effect":"Blurred Vision","drugRate":"3%","severity":"Mild"}],"contraindications":["Hypersensitivity to flunarizine or pregabalin","Severe renal impairment (pregabalin)"],"specialPopulations":{"Elderly":"Increased risk of somnolence and dizziness","Pregnancy":"Use only if clearly needed; potential risk to the fetus","Renal Impairment":"Dose adjustment required for pregabalin"}},"trials":[],"_chembl":null,"aliases":[],"patents":[{"drug":"Pregabalin","expiry":"2023","number":"US6133320A"},{"drug":"Flunarizine","expiry":"Expired","number":"US4083870A"}],"pricing":[],"offLabel":[],"timeline":[{"date":"1982","type":"Launch","milestone":"Flunarizine launched","regulator":"N/A"},{"date":"2004","type":"Launch","milestone":"Pregabalin launched","regulator":"FDA"}],"_dailymed":null,"aiSummary":"Flunarizine and pregabalin are both used for the management of neuropathic pain and other neurological conditions. Flunarizine is a calcium channel blocker primarily used for the prevention of migraines, while pregabalin is an anticonvulsant that is also effective in treating neuropathic pain. Both drugs have been studied at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, but they do not have FDA approval. Safety profiles include common side effects such as dizziness, somnolence, and peripheral edema. Commercially, pregabalin has seen significant revenue, while flunarizine's market presence is more limited.","ecosystem":[],"mechanism":{"target":["L-type calcium channels","alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels"],"novelty":"Pregabalin represents a novel approach to managing neuropathic pain by targeting the alpha2-delta subunit, while flunarizine has been used for decades primarily for migraine prevention.","modality":["Oral"],"drugClass":["Calcium Channel Blocker","Anticonvulsant"],"explanation":"Flunarizine works by blocking calcium channels, which helps to stabilize neuronal membranes and reduce the release of neurotransmitters involved in pain signaling. Pregabalin binds to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, leading to a reduction in the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate and substance P.","oneSentence":"Flunarizine blocks voltage-dependent calcium channels, while pregabalin binds to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, reducing the release of neurotransmitters.","technicalDetail":"Flunarizine selectively blocks L-type calcium channels, which are involved in the depolarization of neuronal membranes. Pregabalin's binding to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels leads to a decrease in the release of neurotransmitters like glutamate and substance P, which are involved in pain transmission."},"_scrapedAt":"2026-03-27T23:46:41.735Z","_scrapedBy":"cloudflare-swarm","_wikipedia":null,"commercial":{"yoyGrowth":"5%","launchDate":"2004 (Pregabalin), 1982 (Flunarizine)","annualCostUS":"$150 (Pregabalin), $30 (Flunarizine)","currentRevenue":"$1.5 billion (Pregabalin)","patientPopulation":"Approximately 10 million patients globally (Pregabalin), 1 million patients (Flunarizine)","peakSalesEstimate":"$2 billion (Pregabalin), $50 million (Flunarizine)"},"references":[],"biosimilars":[],"competitors":[{"name":"Gabapentin","company":"Pfizer","indication":"Neuropathic Pain"},{"name":"Topiramate","company":"Janssen Pharmaceuticals","indication":"Migraine Prevention"}],"indications":{"approved":["Neuropathic Pain (Pregabalin)","Migraine Prevention (Flunarizine)"],"offLabel":["Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Pregabalin)","Restless Legs Syndrome (Pregabalin)"],"pipeline":[]},"labelChanges":[],"relatedDrugs":[],"trialDetails":[{"nctId":"NCT02747940","phase":"PHASE4","title":"Neurologic Signatures of Chronic Pain Disorders","status":"COMPLETED","sponsor":"Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan","startDate":"2015-12","conditions":"Chronic Pain, Chronic Migraine, Fibromyalgia","enrollment":200}],"_emaApprovals":[],"_faersSignals":[],"genericFilers":[{"drug":"Pregabalin","company":"Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd."},{"drug":"Pregabalin","company":"Mylan N.V."}],"latestUpdates":[],"manufacturing":[],"formularyStatus":[],"_approvalHistory":[],"developmentCodes":[],"ownershipHistory":[],"publicationCount":0,"therapeuticAreas":["Neuroscience"],"biosimilarFilings":[],"companionDiagnostics":[],"genericManufacturerList":[],"phase":"marketed","status":"active","brandName":"flunarizine and/or pregabalin","genericName":"flunarizine and/or pregabalin","companyName":"Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan","companyId":"taipei-veterans-general-hospital-taiwan","modality":"Small molecule","firstApprovalDate":"2004 (Pregabalin), 1982 (Flunarizine)","enrichmentLevel":3,"visitCount":0,"regulatoryByCountry":[{"country_code":"CA","regulator":"Health Canada","status":"approved","approval_date":null,"mah":"","brand_name_local":"","application_number":""},{"country_code":"US","regulator":"FDA","status":"approved","approval_date":null,"mah":null,"brand_name_local":null,"application_number":null}],"patentsNormalised":[{"patent_number":"US6133320A","territory":"US","patent_type":"","expiry_date":"2023-06-01T00:00:00.000Z","status":"active","paragraph_iv_filed":false}],"trialStats":{"total":0,"withResults":0},"verificationStatus":"verified","dataCompleteness":{"mechanism":true,"indications":true,"safety":true,"trials":true,"score":4}}