Lyrica (Pregabalin) - Indications, Side Effects and Alternatives

Uses for Lyrica

Lyrica is a name-brand medication prescribed to those who suffer from seizures and various disorders that cause chronic pain. Lyrica, which is also known as pregabalin, is a medication that can be used to control pain and provide relief for those who have various chronic conditions. Medical doctors very often prescribe it to patients with fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, spinal cord injury nerve pain, and shingles pain. It may also be used for treating “partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy”. In fact, it has been shown in clinical studies to reduce the onset of seizures.¹

The drug is considered to be an anticonvulsant and anti-epileptic drug. However, it also “affects chemicals in the brain that send pain signals” throughout the body. This is why it is also prescribed for neuralgia and other long-term pain disorders.² Lyrica is the first FDA-approved drug for being a dedicated way of treating fibromyalgia. In the past, fibromyalgia had been only treated with muscle relaxers, sleep medications, antidepressants, NSAIDs, and pain medications. In this disorder, patients have “heightened sensitivity to stimuli” that may not be perceived as painful to other people who do not have the disorder. Clinical trials have shown the medication’s effectiveness for treating fibromyalgia.³

Side Effects of Lyrica

The general side effects of Lyrica include drowsiness, dizziness, tremors, dry mouth, constipation, loss of balance, or poor memory and concentration. More serious effects include vision problems, bruising and bleeding, weight gain, swelling in the feet and hands, and muscle pain and weakness.

Some medications interact with Lyrica, including the diabetes medicine Avandia (rosiglitazone), and some types of heart and blood pressure medications. Patients should not drink alcohol while on this medication.⁴ Patients with a history of drug and alcohol abuse may misuse this medication and should be carefully monitored for signs of abuse. The drug may also interfere with antihistamines, barbiturates, Parkinson’s and diabetes medications, anti-anxiety medications (i.e., Valium, Xanax), pain medications (morphine, codeine), and tricyclic anti-depressants.

Some patients may have allergic reactions to Lyrica, such as hypersensitivity, rash, hives, swelling, trouble breathing, blisters, and angioedema.⁵ It is very important also that patients report if they have suicidal thoughts while on this medication, as well as depression and anxiety symptoms, insomnia, hostility, or hyperactivity. Patients should be careful to talk to their doctor about all medications that could interact negatively with Lyrica in order to weigh the pros and the cons of being unable to take said medications.

For patients wishing to stop taking Lyrica, there can be additional symptoms and side effects as a result of withdrawal or increased seizures. The patient needs to consult a doctor for how they should go about safely changing the regularity or amount of dosage of the medicine.⁶

Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

Chiropractic care is commonly used to help patients who suffer from fibromyalgia. It can be used to “treat pain of pressure points, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, (and) headaches”. The body is self-healing, and chiropractic adjustments can help the patient’s body to naturally increase mobility, cervical range of motion, and align the patient’s spinal vertebrae.

Swedish, deep tissue, and myofascial release massage can also be helpful to those suffering from fibromyalgia. Some patients may benefit from acupuncture for their fibromyalgia pain. Patients may experience an endorphin release, and their brain chemistry may even be altered by acupuncture. Other alternative treatments can include herbal medicine, meditation, and biofeedback for conditions that cause chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia.⁷

Benefits of Massage

Delving further into the details of how massage therapy is able to help patients with fibromyalgia, quite a few benefits might be reaped from a massage. In addition to the previously mentioned styles of massage, shiatsu is another type that has been indicated by research studies to help patients.

The first step that a patient could take would be to increase their relaxation in order to improve the quality of sleep that they experience at night. This allows the body to more effectively repair and rejuvenate itself during rest. Relaxation also helps relieve mental stress so that the patient could experience improvement in their cognitive issues through mental clarity.

Lethargy could have set into some of the muscles. And massage might be able to help restore the lost strength and vitality. The petrissage stroke style is good for this type of healing. The improved “blood flow to the brain can relieve the physical source of headache”.

Patients who suffer from any ailment are very likely to experience an increase in their mental stress. From there, they could begin to feel anxious or depressed. Massage could help the patient manage their hormonal fluctuations, appetite issues, and relieve their chronic fight-or-flight mode, assisting the patient in calming their own mind and symptomatic mental issues. Massage therapists could also help their patients simply by acting as an open ear and by creating an environment of relaxation where the patient is able to forget their worries for a while.⁸