Lyrica

Lyrica is a prescription medication used to treat pain from damaged nerves caused by diabetes, shingles, and spinal cord injury. It is also used to treat fibromyalgia and seizures. Lyrica belongs to a class of drugs called anticonvulsants, which may work by decreasing pain signals from the brain and slowing brain activity.

This medication comes in capsule form and liquid form and is usually taken 2 or 3 times daily, with or without food.

Common side effects include dizziness, blurred vision, weight gain, and drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lyrica affects you.

Lyrica is a prescription medicine used in adults, 18 years and older, to treat:

• pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) that happens with diabetes
• pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) that follows healing of shingles (a painful rash that occurs after herpes zoster infection)
• pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) due to spinal cord injury
• partial seizures when taken together with other seizure medicines
• fibromyalgia (pain all over your body)

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take Lyrica exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.

The recommended dosage varies depending upon the patient's kidney function (creatinine clearance) and the medical condition being treated. Initial dosages are often 150 mg per day in divided doses (smaller doses taken two or three times daily) and are gradually increased to a maximum dose of 600 mg per day.

Lyrica may cause serious side effects including:

Serious, even life-threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking Lyrica  and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these signs of a serious allergic reaction:

• swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck
• trouble breathing
• rash, hives (raised bumps) or blisters

Lyrica may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: 

• thoughts about suicide or dying
• attempts to commit suicide
• new or worse depression
• new or worse anxiety
• feeling agitated or restless
• panic attacks
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• new or worse irritability
• acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
• acting on dangerous impulses
• an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
• other unusual changes in behavior or mood

​If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, do not stop Lyrica without first talking to a healthcare provider.

• Stopping Lyrica suddenly can cause serious problems.
• Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions? 

• Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
• Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
• Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

​Lyrica may cause other serious side effects including:

​Swelling of your hands, legs and feet. This swelling can be a serious problem for people with heart problems.

• Do not take Lyrica if you are allergic to Lyrica or any of the inactive ingredients in Lyrica. 
• Do not drink alcohol while taking Lyrica.

Lyrica may cause serious side effects. See "Drug Precautions" section.

The most common side effects of Lyrica are:

• dizziness
• blurry vision
• weight gain
• sleepiness
• trouble concentrating
• swelling of hands and feet
• dry mouth

Lyrica caused skin sores in animal studies. Skin sores did not happen in studies in people. If you have diabetes, you should pay attention to your skin while taking Lyrica and tell your healthcare provider about any sores or skin problems.

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Lyrica. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lyrica and other medicines may affect each other. Always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any medicines. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril (Capoten, in Capozide), enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic, Lexxel), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, in Prinzide, Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic, Quinaretic), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka)
• antidepressants
• antihistamines
• medications for anxiety, including lorazepam (Ativan)
• medications for mental illness or seizures
• certain medications for diabetes such as pioglitazone (Actos, in Duetact) and rosiglitazone (Avandia, in Avandaryl, Avandamet)
• narcotic pain medications, including oxycodone (OxyContin, in Percocet, others)
• sedatives
• sleeping pills
• tranquilizers

This is not a complete list of Lyrica drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. There are no well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Lyrica should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if Lyrica is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of Lyrica and may gradually increase your dose during the first week of treatment.

Take Lyrica exactly as directed. Lyrica may be habit forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.

Lyrica may help control your symptoms but will not cure your condition.

It may take several weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of Lyrica . Continue to take Lyrica even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pregabalin without talking to your doctor.

If you suddenly stop taking Lyrica , you may experience withdrawal symptoms, including trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, or seizures. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually over at least one week.

Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lyrica affects you.