Lyrica for pain relief, side effects,
benefits, birth defectsbcvu7 Pregabalin
June 2 2016 by
Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Lyrica affects chemicals and nerves in the body that are involved in the cause of seizures and some types of pain. Lyrica is a medicine designed specifically to relieve common types of nerve pain such as diabetic nerve pain and pain after shingles. Lyrica is made by Pfizer. Lyrica, which is currently approved to treat neuropathic pain and epilepsy seizures.
Curr Neuropharmacology. 2014. Pregabalin in neuropathic pain: evidences and possible mechanisms. Pregabalin is an antagonist of voltage gated Ca2+ channels and specifically binds to alpha-2-delta subunit to produce antiepileptic and analgesic actions. It alleviates the symptoms of various types of neuropathic pain and presents itself as therapeutic agent with good safety and efficacy. Preclinical studies in various animal models of neuropathic pain have shown its effectiveness in treating the symptoms like allodynia and hyperalgesia. Clinical studies in different age groups and in different types of neuropathic pain (peripheral diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, cancer chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain) have projected it as an effective agent either as monotherapy or in combined regimens in terms of cost effectiveness, tolerability and overall improvement in neuropathic pain states.
Mechanism of action, how it works
It appears that pregabalin is an antagonist of voltage gated Ca2+ channels and
specifically binds to alpha-2-delta subunit to produce antiepileptic and
analgesic actions.
Lyrica for seizures
Lyrica is used with other drugs in the
treatment of some types of seizures.
Lyrica and Post Herpetic Neuralgia
This medication is used for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain caused by the herpes virus or shingles).
Lyrica for Diabetic Neuropathy
Lyrica is prescribed for diabetic neuropathy (pain from damaged nerves that happen with diabetes).
Lyrica and fibromyalgia
Patients taking Pfizer Inc's Lyrica have less from fibromyalgia. Pfizer
submitted data from the study to U.S. health regulators in an effort to broaden
the fast-growing drug's approved uses to include treatment of fibromyalgia.
There are natural options to treat fibromyalgia. See
fibromyalgia for info
on natural treatment options.
The study tested Lyrica at three doses -- 600 milligrams a day, 450
mg and 300 mg -- against a placebo and had patients measure their pain on a
scale of zero to 10. Thirty percent of patients taking the 600 mg dose of Lyrica
said their pain was reduced by half or better compared with 27 percent at 450 mg
and 24 percent at the lowest dose. Of those taking a placebo, 15 percent
reported pain reduction of 50 percent or greater, Pfizer said. Data from the
study were presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in
Boston in May of 2007.
2007 - The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration approved Lyrica for fibromyalgia. It is thought that this
drug
reduces pain and improves daily functions for some patients with fibromyalgia.
Studies have shown that such patients have decreased pain after taking Lyrica,
but, the mechanism by which it produces such an effect is unknown. The most
common side effects of Lyrica include mild-to-moderate dizziness and sleepiness.
Blurred vision, weight gain, dry mouth, and swelling of the hands and feet also
were reported in clinical trials. The side effects appeared to be dose-related.
Lyrica can impair motor function and cause problems with concentration and
attention. FDA advises that patients talk to their doctor or other health care
professional about whether use of Lyrica may impair their ability to drive.
Lyrica already is approved for treating partial seizures, pain following the
rash of shingles and pain associated with diabetes nerve damage.
My comments: Only resort to Lyrica if you have tried every natural
approach and you are still suffering from fibromyalgia pain.
Anxiety Disorder
Lyrica may have similar efficacy to the benzodiazepines and venlafaxine.
Alcohol Detoxification
Lyrica may be a therapeutic agent for medical management of alcohol detoxification.
Pregnancy, side
effects, birth defects
The widely prescribed drug pregabalin (Lyrica) may slightly increase the
risk for birth defects. In a small study researchers found that among women
taking Lyrica during the first trimester of pregnancy, 6 percent had infants
with major birth defects. In women who weren't taking the drug, 2 percent had a
baby with a major birth defect.
Questions
Q. I am suffering from diabetes since 1995. I am on
tablets. From Dec 2005 I had developed with diabetic neuropathy problem. My
family doctor gave me Lyrica 75 mg. From January 2006 my penis getting
thinner and when erection time my penis is having abnormal bend. Therefore my
penis is not straight to do intercourse. I have a difficulty to do the
intercourse. Do you thing this problem is due to the Diabetic neuropathy or
Lyrica?
A. Diabetic neuropathy can cause impotence or erectile
dysfunction. I am not sure yet of the side effects of Lyrica to know whether
impotence or abnormal curvature of the penis is a Lyrica side effect.
Q. I read on a
website, "Lyrica is a medicine designed specifically to relieve 2 of the most
common types of nerve pain: Diabetic Nerve Pain and Pain after Shingles. Lyrica
is also approved to treat partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy who
take one or more anti-seizure medicines." My Neurologist has me taking Lyrica
Caplets, 50 mg, twice a day for the prevention of migraines. I have been taking
it for 2 months. My migraines aren't as severe as they use to be and don't
last as long as they use to. However, I still get them daily. Should I ask my
Neurologist to increase the dosage to 3 caps daily?
A. We cannot provide individual advice. See
migraine headache for
more info to discuss with your neurologist.
I am a physician
and my wife was placed on Lyrica for neuropathic pain in 2006. She no longer
requires the medicine since 2008 after a series of nerve blocks. She has tried
to very slowly taper the drug multiple times to get off the drug without
success. When she gets below a certain dosage she develops severe insomnia and
is not able to fall asleep for days until she increases the dosage. The usual
sleep aides do not work until the Lyrica is increased. (I hope you can help me
find a solution.) I have been adding over the counter GABA and L-theanine and
inositol but I don’t know if I am just making the problem worse. If a GABA
supplement helps her sleep, does it cross the blood brain barrier? If she has a
urine test by neuroscience and it measures the GABA, how would you interpret
that if she is on a GABA-nergic drug and a GABA supplement? Neuroscience did not
have a good answer. The same applies if you measure the amino acid levels in
blood, including GABA, how would you interpret that? Have you had any experience
getting people off GABA like drugs? If not, is there specific person or center
you would highly recommend? Do you have any other ideas as far as supplements or
combinations that might help her sleep while she tries to get off this drug?
I do not think it is of benefit to measure levels of
neurotransmitters in the blood or urine in terms of developing a treatment
strategy. In most cases I do not find these kinds of tests useful or practical.