The small white pill looks harmless enough in my palm. I’m standing in Joe Silverman’s kitchen in East Vancouver as he shows me the medication that was supposed to help manage his chronic nerve pain. Instead, it nearly put him in the hospital.
“I’ve been taking pregabalin for four years,” says Silverman, 58, adjusting his glasses as he carefully examines the prescription bottle. “First time I’ve ever had a problem like this.”
Silverman is one of thousands of Canadians who received potentially dangerous doses of JAMP Pregabalin after Health Canada announced a nationwide recall of the medication on May 2, 2025. The government health agency identified a critical manufacturing error where 150 mg capsules may contain as much as 300 mg of the active ingredient—double the prescribed dose.
“I felt disoriented, like the room was spinning,” Silverman recalls of his experience after taking what should have been his regular dose. “My wife says I was slurring my words. That’s when we checked online and found out about the recall.”
Pregabalin, commonly prescribed for epilepsy, nerve pain, and generalized anxiety disorder, works by calming overactive nerves. While effective at proper doses, an overdose can cause confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision, slurred speech, and in severe cases, respiratory depression or even death.
Dr. Amina Patel, clinical pharmacologist at Vancouver General Hospital, explains that the risk is especially high for certain populations. “Elderly patients and those with underlying respiratory conditions or kidney problems face the greatest dangers from accidental overdose,” she tells me. “The body metabolizes pregabalin through the kidneys, so higher doses can quickly become problematic for vulnerable individuals.”
According to Health Canada’s public advisory, the affected lots were distributed nationwide between January and April 2025. The recall specifically targets JAMP Pregabalin 150 mg capsules with lot numbers H23P751 through H23P755, with expiration dates ranging from November 2026 to February 2027.
When I visited the Downtown Eastside Community Health Centre, pharmacist Daniel Wong was busy calling patients who had received the medication. “We’ve contacted about 70% of our affected patients so far,” Wong says, hanging up from yet another call. “Some have already experienced side effects before we could reach them.”
Wong explains that many patients don’t regularly check health advisories, creating challenges during critical recalls. “Many of our patients don’t have reliable internet access or smartphones. We’re having staff make personal calls, but it takes time.”
The human impact extends beyond physical symptoms. For Marianne Tyson, 42, who takes pregabalin to manage fibromyalgia pain, the recall has meant going without her medication entirely.
“The pharmacy couldn’t guarantee when they’d have replacement stock,” Tyson explains, wincing as she shifts position on her living room sofa. “It’s been five days, and the pain is getting worse. I’m afraid to take what I have left because of the recall, but I’m also afraid of what happens if I stop completely.”
Health Canada’s guidance confirms Tyson’s concerns. Abruptly stopping pregabalin can trigger withdrawal symptoms including insomnia, headaches, nausea, and in some cases, seizures. The agency advises patients not to stop taking their medication without first consulting their healthcare provider.
JAMP Pharma Group, the Montreal-based pharmaceutical company responsible for the affected medication, issued a statement acknowledging the manufacturing error and committing to expedited replacement of affected lots. “Patient safety is our highest priority,” the statement reads. “We are working around the clock to ensure replacement medication reaches patients as quickly as possible.”
This represents the largest recall of a neurological medication in Canada since 2022, when several anticonvulsant
