Is Pregabalin legal in India?
- Legal status
- Pregabalin was moved into Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 by MoHFW gazette notification on 20 May 2026 — a stricter record-kept prescription tier than gabapentin — after states such as Punjab and Telangana flagged widespread abuse; it is NOT (yet) scheduled under the NDPS Act, so it is a controlled prescription medicine rather than a narcotic.
- Consequences if caught
- Selling Schedule H1 pregabalin without a valid prescription is a Drugs and Cosmetics Act offence; because it is not NDPS-scheduled, the NDPS quantity-based prison tiers do not apply.
- If prescribed or medical
- Dispensed only against a written prescription from a registered medical practitioner, with each sale logged in a dedicated pharmacy register (Schedule H1).
- Documentation
- Carry a valid prescription or doctor's letter and original packaging with a personal-use quantity, and declare it on entry.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with India’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →