What Is Lyrica (pregabalin)? What Does Lyrica Treat?

May 22, 2009

Lyrica is Pfizer's trade name for a drug called pregabalin.

Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) drug that is often used to treat

neuropathic pain as well as partial seizures that are common in temporal lobe

epilepsy. In Europe, pregabalin is also approved to treat generalized anxiety

disorder.

What does Lyrica treat?

Lyrica or pregabalin has been approved in the U.S. to treat epilepsy, diabetic

neuropathy pain, and post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles). In addition,

pregabalin has been approved in the U.S to treat fibromyalgia, a condition where

there is pain in muscles and connective tissue as well as widespread pain and a

heightened and painful response to touch. The European Union has also approved

Lyrica to treat generalized anxiety disorder.

What are the side effects of Lyrica?

The most prevalent side effect of pregabalin is dizziness or drowsiness, which

occurs in more than 10% of patients. Between one and ten percent of patients

experience visual problems, lack of coordination in muscle movements, disorder

of speech, tremor, lethargy, memory problems, euphoria, constipation, dry mouth,

peripheral swelling, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and weight gain.

Less than 1 percent of patients taking pregabalin may experience depression,

confusion, agitation, hallucinations, muscle twitching, change in sensitivity to

touch, increased heart rate, excessive salivating, sweating, redness, rash,

muscle cramps, muscle and joint pain, urinary problems, or kidney stones.

Less than 0.1% of patients may experience low neutrophil (type of white blood

cell) levels, heart block, blood pressure changes, inflammation of the pancreas,

difficulty swallowing, halt in urine production, or a breakdown in skeletal

muscle tissue.

Although the likelihood is low, patients may become dependent on pregabalin and

they may see withdrawal effects after using the drug for an extended period of

time.

Does Lyrica interact with other drugs?

The manufacturer of Lyrica warns of potential dangerous interactions with the

following drugs:

Opioids

Benzodiazepines

Barbiturates

Alcohol

Any drugs that depress the central nervous system

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