Anyone taking LYRICA?

Just got an Rx for Lyrica today.  In researching, found that weight loss is one of the most frequent side effects.  Would like to hear from anyone with experience taking this drug. Thanks, Cindy

My brother takes this for fibromyalgia pain and what i found for him was to the contrary (weightgain)at Medscape  in my search, this is what I recently sent to him, its the patient insert, scroll down to Side Effects: "increased appetite and weight gain" Patient Education PREGABALIN - ORAL

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your health care professional. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you.

 

PREGABALIN - ORAL

(pree-GAH-ba-lin)

 

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Lyrica

 

USES: This medication is used to treat pain caused by nerve damage due to diabetes and shingles (herpes zoster) infection. It is also used to treat pain in people with fibromyalgia.

It is also used with other medications to treat certain types of seizures (partial onset seizures).

 

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using pregabalin and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth, usually twice or three times a day, or as directed by your doctor. You may take it with or without food. When you start this medication, your dosage will probably need to be increased slowly by your doctor to reduce side effects, especially dizziness or drowsiness. Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. This drug works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore it is best to take pregabalin at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night.

Do not stop taking this drug suddenly without your doctor's approval since seizures may come back, or you may have a withdrawal reaction.

This medication may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended period of time, or if it has been used in high doses. In such cases, if you suddenly stop this drug, withdrawal reactions may occur. Such reactions can include difficulty sleeping, nausea, headache and diarrhea. Report to your doctor immediately any such reactions. When stopping extended, regular treatment with this drug, gradually reducing the dosage as directed will help prevent withdrawal reactions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Though it is very unlikely to occur, this medication can also result in abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction/habit-forming). Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. This will lessen the chances of becoming addicted.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

 

SIDE EFFECTS: Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, unsteadiness, fatigue, swollen arms/legs, increased appetite, weight gain, nausea, dry mouth or constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: change in amount of urine, difficulty speaking, loss of coordination, mental/mood changes, muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially if you are tired or have a fever), stomach/abdominal pain, uncontrolled movements (e.g., tremor, twitching), unusual tiredness, vision changes.

This medication rarely may cause mood or behavior changes, such as anxiety, agitation, hostility, pressured/rapid speech, or thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop unusual (possibly sudden) mood changes.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: unusual bleeding/bruising, slow or irregular heartbeat.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: ra****ching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/lips/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

 

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking pregabalin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart problems (e.g., heart failure), kidney disease, a certain type of blood disorder (low platelet count), history of an allergic reaction whi*****luded itching/swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat (angioedema).

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages because they may increase the risk of this drug's side effects.

Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, confusion.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

 

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep (e.g., sedatives), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, or tricyclics such as amitriptyline), tranquilizers.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

 

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

 

NOTES: Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law. Laboratory tests may be done to measure kidney function.

 

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

 

STORAGE: Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59 - 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

 

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

 

Information last revised February 2008 Copyright(c) 2008 First DataBank, Inc.

Thanks for all the info Mirabelle, sorry to hear that your brother has FMS.  IT SUCKS to put it bluntly.  And, seems the more weight I lose, the more intense the FMS pain.  Go figure. Cindy

Your welcome Cindy...maybe its time for a bone density scan. (dexscan) I suffer from osteoporosis but refuse to take those meds so in pain everyday. I do yoga and pilates and this helps me greatly to cope with the pain. I use to be a runner all my life but unfortunately my spine and hiph as suffered.

Good thinking, I had a bone scan about a year ago, bone health looked good, but found 2 rib fractures that were "lurking" !!!  I'd been having pain in the right rib cage, but couldn't correlate an injury, so go figure.  There is a new Pilates studio opening near me and I'm going to check that out.  Yoga is another one I need to try.  With the FMS, it is very difficult to do any exercise at all, but stretching type movements are better tolerated for me.  Thanks so much for your reply, and sorry to hear about your spine and hip. cindy

Hi Cindy, I've taken this for about 3 years. It helps but I've put on about 30 lbs. I'm going to taper off and see how my FMS does. Check out the FMS forum to read others using this drug.

I was just recently prescribed Lyrica by my doctor for fibromyalgia.  However, on the day of my doctor's visit, I was talking to a lady in the waiting room who'd recently gained 40 lbs. within 3 months as a result of taking lyrica.  She said that she'd always been thin and the wait gain was driving her nuts.  She told me that she was going to have him take her off of it immediately.  I decided to come home and research it on the internet prior to getting the prescription filled.  Everything I read posted from others taking it all talked about gaining weight.  I thus decided to ask for something different on my next doctor's visit.  Hope that helps. Marie

Hi Marie, I've been taking the Lyrica for the past 5 days, and it is working!!! (not 100% pain free, but down to a 1-2 on the pain scale)   What a HUGE difference in how I feel.  It took about 3 days to adjust before the "stoner" feeling went away.  LOL (for me, flashback to the 60's & early 70's) I am very concerned about the weight gain and will be keeping very close watch on that.  It was a combination of many things that got me to the point to need gastric bypass, and one of the main contributors was the medications I was taking for the FMS back in the mid 90's.  I was off and on prednisone for about 7 years and ballooned up and could never get rid of the weight even after weaning off, so I'll  NOT let that happen again. I've lived with the FM pain for so long, I'd truly rather be thin with FM than fat again, but relatively pain free.  Does that seem slightly irrational?  All my co-morbidities have resolved. I hope you get something that will help in your battle with FM. Cindy (PS - my sister lives in Marshall, I visit when I can.  Love the area)