What does lyrica do

Symptoms include swelling of the face, mouth lips, gums, tongue , neck, throat, and upper airway. If these occur, seek immediate medical attention. Talk to your doctor if you are taking these medications. Do not engage in activities requiring mental alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medication affects you.

Drinking alcohol while you are taking pregabalin may make these effects stronger. It is strongly recommended that you avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking pregabalin. Gastrointestinal problems: Pregabalin can cause constipation. When taken with other medications that cause constipation, such as narcotic pain relievers or some antidepressants, the combination may cause blockage of the digestive system. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for suggestions on how to manage constipation.

Heart problems: Pregabalin may cause fluid to build up in the body. If the fluid accumulates around the lungs or heart, symptoms of heart failure may become worse. If you have heart failure or other heart problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Report any signs of heart problems getting worse, such as difficulty breathing, rapid weight gain or chest pain to your doctor immediately. Kidney function: Pregabalin is primarily eliminated from the body by the kidneys.

Kidney disease or decreased kidney function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Pregabalin may reduce kidney function and can cause kidney failure. If you notice any signs of your kidneys not working well, such as decreased amounts of urine being produced, swelling of the legs and ankles, difficulty urinating, or an increased need to urinate at night, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Male fertility: Animal studies have shown the use of pregabalin to be associated with decreased fertility, sperm abnormalities, and birth defects. It is not known if these effects would happen in people. If you plan to father a child, discuss using this medication with your doctor first. Muscle pain: If you experience muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with or without fever, contact your doctor immediately.

Skin problems: Pregabalin may cause skin ulcers or sores. Pay extra attention to your skin while taking this medication, especially if you have diabetes. If you notice any new skin sores or skin problems let your doctor know. Stopping this medication: Stopping pregabalin suddenly may result in withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, nausea, headache, diarrhea, and seizures.

If it is necessary to stop taking this medication, talk to your doctor about the best way to reduce your dose before stopping your medication. Suicidal behaviour: People taking this medication may feel that they may want to hurt themselves or others. Lyrica is not a cure for fibromyalgia, but it may help control your symptoms.

It can take several weeks before you feel the benefits. Exactly how Lyrica works is unknown. Fibromyalgia symptoms have been linked to changes in the brain that influence how people perceive pain. People with fibromyalgia experience a heightened sensitivity to stimuli that are not normally painful to others. Lyrica was approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia in adults 18 years and older in Marketed by Pfizer, it was previously approved for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy , post-herpetic neuralgia, and as an additional therapy for adults with partial onset seizures.

Until the approval of Lyrica capsules, no medicine was specifically approved to treat fibromyalgia. Symptoms of fibromyalgia had been treated with:. These medications act as antidepressants while Lyrica does not.

Have a full discussion with your healthcare provider about the potential benefits and risks of Lyrica. People who are prescribed Lyrica must fully understand dosage, directions, side effects, and potentially serious adverse events associated with the drug. While it may be a very beneficial drug for some people with fibromyalgia, precautions for safe use must be followed.

Because of the possibility of dizziness or drowsiness, the drug may impair your ability to drive or operate complex machinery.

Some people have reported allergic reactions to Lyrica, including swelling of the face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, and neck. Others experienced trouble breathing, rash, hives, and blisters.

If any of these symptoms occur, you should stop taking Lyrica immediately and seek medical care. A small number of people, about 1 in , may have suicidal thoughts or actions with Lyrica, as is common for antiepileptic drugs. Don't stop taking the medication, but contact your healthcare provider if you have such thoughts or if you have anxiety, depression, irritability, agitation, or other unusual behavior that is new or worsening.

Swelling of the hands and feet are another serious symptom, especially if you have heart problems. Consult your healthcare provider immediately. If prescribed Lyrica, you must inform your healthcare provider about all medications that you take, prescription and non-prescription, as well as any supplements. Especially important to note are ACE inhibitors , narcotics, and Avandia rosiglitazone or Actos pioglitazone for diabetes.

As with any prior significant medical problem, people who have had a drug use disorder or alcohol use disorder in the past should inform their healthcare provider. Pregabalin extended-release tablets are usually taken once daily after an evening meal. Take pregabalin at around the same time s every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of pregabalin and may gradually increase your dose during the first week of treatment. Take pregabalin exactly as directed. Pregabalin 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.

Pregabalin 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 pregabalin. Continue to take pregabalin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pregabalin without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood.

If you suddenly stop taking pregabalin, 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 1 week. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet Medication Guide when you begin treatment with pregabalin and each time you refill your prescription.

Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

If you are taking the capsules or the oral solution and forget to take a dose and remember a few hours later, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are taking the extended-release tablets and forget to take a dose after your evening meal, take the missed dose before bedtime after a snack.

If you miss taking the dose prior to bedtime, take your dose the following day after breakfast. Lyrica belongs to a drug class called antiepileptic drugs AEDs. Lyrica contains the active drug pregabalin. Gabapentin is also an AED. Gabapentin is approved for use in children ages 3 years and older.

But this form of Lyrica is only available in one strength: 20 mg of the drug per milliliter mL of liquid. Gabapentin comes in three forms: capsules, tablets, and a liquid solution. All are taken by mouth. Gabapentin is available in the following strengths:. Lyrica and gabapentin have some similar side effects and others that vary.

Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with either Lyrica or gabapentin, as well as serious side effects that both drugs may share. But studies have found both Lyrica and gabapentin to be effective for nerve pain after shingles and for partial onset seizures.

According to estimates on GoodRx. Lyrica is a brand-name drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. Gabapentin is a generic drug. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat diabetic nerve pain include:.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat fibromyalgia include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat pain after shingles include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat nerve pain from a spinal cord injury include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat partial onset seizures include:. In larger clinical studies :. Because of this, anyone with a history of misusing alcohol, prescription medications, or recreational drugs should talk with their doctor before using Lyrica.

It might. Lyrica can show up on certain drug tests that specifically screen for pregabalin, which is its active drug. Instead, most drug tests look for drugs that are commonly misused or used illegally, including:.

Pregabalin belongs to a class of medications known as antiepileptic drugs. But Lyrica is a controlled substance. Anyone with a history of misusing drugs or alcohol may be more likely to misuse Lyrica. If you have questions or concerns about misusing Lyrica, talk with your doctor before you start treatment. Lyrica may cause certain side effects that could affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

These side effects can include:. Yes, Lyrica can be used in people with diabetes. The drug is approved to treat diabetic nerve pain. But people with diabetes should pay special attention to their skin while taking Lyrica.

In animal studies , Lyrica caused skin ulcers sores. If you have diabetes and notice any sores or skin problems while taking Lyrica, talk with your doctor. Lyrica may not be safe for you if you use certain other medications called thiazolidinediones to treat diabetes. Examples of thiazolidinediones include pioglitazone Actos and rosiglitazone Avandia. Lyrica and thiazolidinediones can both cause swelling in your feet, hands, and legs. But in some people with breathing problems, Lyrica may cause respiratory depression slow and shallow breathing.

This side effect can be life threatening. Lyrica can also cause respiratory depression if taken with other drugs that depress the central nervous system CNS , such as opioids. If you have a breathing problem or are taking a CNS depressant, talk with your doctor before you start treatment with Lyrica. If you do take Lyrica, your doctor will likely have you and the people around you watch for sedation severe sleepiness or worsening breathing problems.

This is because suddenly stopping Lyrica may cause withdrawal symptoms. In clinical studies , some people who suddenly stopped Lyrica experienced side effects, including:. Because of this, you should gradually stop taking Lyrica over time. This is known as a drug taper. For this purpose, Lyrica is used with other seizure treatments. Lyrica begins working as soon as you take your dose. But your symptoms may not be relieved right away.

In clinical trials , some adults taking Lyrica for nerve pain or fibromyalgia reported a decrease in pain within 1 week of starting treatment. But it may take several weeks before the drug starts to relieve your symptoms. Drinking alcohol during your Lyrica treatment could raise your risk for certain side effects, such as dizziness, sleepiness, and even respiratory depression.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Lyrica can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Lyrica. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Lyrica. Before taking Lyrica, talk with your doctor and pharmacist.

Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Lyrica may cause respiratory depression slow and shallow breathing if taken with other drugs that cause sedation severe sleepiness or respiratory depression. Opioids are a type of drug that can cause these side effects. Tramadol is an example of an opioid medication that can cause respiratory depression and sedation. Taking Lyrica and tramadol together may increase your risk for severe side effects.

Lyrica can affect your central nervous system CNS. Your CNS is made up of your brain and spinal cord. Your spinal cord has nerves that your brain uses to send signals throughout your body. This may cause symptoms such as sedation severe sleepiness and respiratory depression. Your doctor may adjust the dosage of one or more of your medications, or they may have you try a different medication for your condition. Lyrica may interact with certain diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones. Both thiazolidinediones and Lyrica can cause swelling in your hands, feet, and legs.

Taking Lyrica with thiazolidinediones may raise your risk for swelling, as well as weight gain. If you take these drugs together, your doctor will likely monitor you for any symptoms of swelling or unusual weight gain. Your doctor may adjust your dosage of Lyrica or the thiazolidinedione, or they may have you try a different drug to treat your condition.

But you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Lyrica. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Lyrica, talk with your doctor.

As with all medications, the cost of Lyrica can vary. To find current prices for Lyrica in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx.

Keep in mind that you may be able to get a day supply of Lyrica.