Inclusion Criteria:  Patients undergoing first time cardiac surgery by median sternotomy Elective surgery or semi-urgent: there needs to be time to provide 1 hour before surgery the intake of pregabalin ≥ 18 years for men Women who are in menopause Possibility to communicate with the patient to score pain and comfort Signed Informed Consent, signed by subject able and willing to provide written informed consent for study participation  Exclusion Criteria:  Urgent surgery Women who are in premenopause Hypersensitivity to any of the study medication In case of direct postoperative revision the patient is NOT excluded.