Lyrica Side Effects: Is It Bad For You?

Short and long-term symptoms you shouldn’t ignore if you’ve taken Lyrica recently

Lyrica (pregabalin) is a widely prescribed antiepileptic drug (or “anticonvulsant”) primarily approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat conditions like peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes, nerve pain from shingles or spinal cord injuries, postherpetic neuralgia, partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy, and fibromyalgia.

While these are the conditions officially approved by the FDA, Lyrica is often used off-label to address other health issues, including anxiety, osteoarthritis pain, and chronic low back pain. This versatility has made Lyrica a common choice for managing various types of pain and neurological conditions—but it has also raised questions about misuse and potential side effects.

What is Lyrica?

Lyrica (pregabalin) is a prescription medication designed to calm overactive nerve signals in the body. Classified as an antiepileptic drug, it works by reducing the release of certain chemicals in the brain that transmit pain and contribute to seizures. While it’s primarily recognized for managing nerve pain and epilepsy, Lyrica is also widely used to treat fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions.

Manufactured by Pfizer, Lyrica is available in capsule and liquid form, making it accessible for various patient needs. Despite its benefits, it’s not without controversy, particularly concerning its off-label use and potential for side effects.

What do Lyrica pills look like?

Lyrica pills are typically oblong capsules that come in a range of colors, including white, pink, and orange, often in two-tone combinations. They are imprinted with "Pfizer" on one side and specific markings (e.g., "PGN 300") on the other to indicate the dosage strength.

Common Lyrica side effects

Doctors warn patients that they might experience a range of symptoms after taking Lyrica, including the following common side effects:

These side effects—particularly drowsiness—may become more pronounced if alcohol or other substances that affect the central nervous system are consumed alongside Lyrica.

Patients who misuse Lyrica or take higher-than-prescribed doses may also experience intensified side effects.

More serious side effects that have been reported with Lyrica include, but are not limited to:

Long-term and withdrawal symptoms

For patients taking Lyrica over an extended period, pregabalin side effects long-term may include:

• Persistent dizziness or sedation
• Ongoing cognitive difficulties (e.g., memory loss or trouble concentrating)
• Dependence on the drug, leading to Lyrica withdrawal symptoms such as:
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Sweating
  • Anxiety or restlessness

Lyrica belongs to a class of drugs known as gabapentinoids, which work by calming overactive nerve signals in the brain. While effective for many conditions, gabapentinoid misuse risks are a growing concern. These risks include dependency, withdrawal symptoms, or recreational use to achieve a "high."

Actionable advice for managing side effects

Mild side effects: Fatigue, dry mouth, and dizziness are relatively common but should be reported if they interfere with daily life.

Severe reactions: Seek medical attention immediately for symptoms such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Suicidal thoughts or severe mood changes

Medication adjustments: Never stop taking Lyrica abruptly, as this can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Instead, consult your doctor for a safe discontinuation plan.

Managing side effects or withdrawal from Lyrica can be overwhelming. Connecting with others who have faced similar challenges can provide valuable emotional support and practical advice. Consider joining a support group dedicated to medication withdrawal or chronic pain. Examples include:

• Benzo Buddies: While focused on benzodiazepine withdrawal, this forum has sections for other medications like Lyrica, offering advice and community support.
• Drugs.com Support Groups: A dedicated pregabalin (Lyrica) group where users share experiences and tips for managing side effects.
• Facebook groups: Searching for “Lyrica withdrawal” or “gabapentinoid support” on Facebook can lead to active communities discussing these medications.

FDA approval history: How Lyrica became a widely prescribed drug

The FDA is a branch of the federal government that oversees regulation and safety concerns for prescription medications, medical devices, over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics and particular food items.

Since its initial approval by the FDA on December 30, 2004, Lyrica has undergone a series of FDA endorsements for different medical conditions, making it one of the most versatile drugs in its class. Here's a brief history of its key milestones:

• December 30, 2004: Lyrica was first approved for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia.
• June 10, 2005: Approval was granted for Lyrica as adjunctive therapy for adult patients with partial-onset seizures.
• June 21, 2007: Lyrica became the first medication approved for the management of fibromyalgia.
• June 21, 2012: The FDA approved Lyrica for the management of neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury.
• October 11, 2017: Lyrica CR (extended-release tablets) was approved for neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia.

Lyrica’s off-label uses: What conditions is it prescribed for?

Lyrica is frequently prescribed for conditions that fall outside its official FDA-approved uses. These “off-label” applications are determined by doctors based on clinical judgment and emerging research. Common off-label uses include:

• Anxiety disorders: Lyrica is sometimes used to help manage generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), particularly in patients who haven’t responded well to traditional treatments.
• Chronic pain: Beyond its approved uses, Lyrica is prescribed for pain related to osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
• Migraine prevention: Although not FDA-approved for this purpose, some doctors recommend Lyrica as a preventive measure for recurring migraines.

Off-label prescribing is legal and often beneficial, but it requires careful consideration of potential risks, particularly given Lyrica’s extensive list of possible side effects.

Why is Lyrica prescribed for so many conditions?

Gabapentinoids, the class of medication to which Lyrica belongs, are increasingly being prescribed for conditions that they’re not approved to treat. This is thought to be a reflex to the growing opioid epidemic; doctors avoid prescribing opioids by offering gabapentinoids, instead. Lyrica and other gabapentinoids are offered as a first-line treatment when lesser interventions don’t work.

Sadly, this doesn’t reduce the potential for abuse, as discovered in random urine tests.

One in five patients found to be taking Gabapentin, a similar medication to Lyrica, were doing so without a prescription. Pfizer, which manufactures both Neurontin (the brand name for gabapentin) and Lyrica, has paid billions of dollars in fines to the FDA for illegal marketing activities. According to the U.S. Justice Department, a case over four Pfizer drugs for illegal marketing led to the biggest fine in American history‚ for any legal matter, not just drug violations. In the end, the pharmaceutical giant was forced to pay $2.3 billion.

Using Lyrica without a prescription can lead to psychedelic highs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies it as Schedule V, so it’s easier to obtain a prescription because it’s considered to have a lower potential for abuse. It operates on both the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopaminergic reward systems in the body, which can create euphoria, sedation, marijuana-like highs, and dissociative effects.

Physicians have lowered their thresholds for prescribing drugs like these because more patients are experiencing non-cancer pain that would otherwise be treated with opioids. In today’s medical climate, doctors are wary of prescribing too many opioids, which has led to an increase in gabapentinoid prescriptions. There are few other options, and when NSAIDs or acetaminophen don’t achieve the desired results, gabapentinoids are typically the next step.

Marketing practices don’t help this situation either, as manufacturers conduct massive campaigns to reach the ears and eyes of patients and their doctors. As of 2016, pregabalin was the 10th most prescribed medication in the United States, which translated to 64 million prescriptions. That was an increase of 39 million from 2012.

Some physicians are concerned with this development for the following reasons:

• While scientific evidence supports the efficacy of some drugs for off-label uses, this hasn’t been the case for gabapentinoids. Researchers found that clinical studies of gabapentinoids for pain control only examined the mitigation of postoperative pain, which isn’t pain that the general population experiences. Lyrica is most often prescribed for common, everyday pain, which hasn’t been fully studied. For instance, a placebo-controlled trial showed that pregabalin was ineffective for sciatica patients. There were also limited evidence in studies of its efficacy for chronic low back pain.
• Pregabalin has nontrivial side effects, such as dizziness and sedation. Up to 40% of patients taking this drug reported dizziness, compared to 13% on a placebo regimen. Since gabapentinoids are often prescribed with other medications that affect the central nervous system, these side effects can be intensified.
• Patients misuse and abuse pregabalin and gabapentin. Withdrawal often occurs after doses are stopped.
• Indiscriminate off-label use reinforces the viewing of pain as something that can be solved by medication when patients should focus on other interventions.

Since gabapentinoids are touted as the “safer” alternative to opioids, this trend is likely to continue. Additionally, the American Pain Society recommended that gabapentin be considered for post-operative pain relief, which doesn’t help the majority of patients. This was endorsed by the American Society for Regional Anaesthesia.

What to do if you think Lyrica is causing side effects

If you’ve been affected by Lyrica and are suffering side effects, you should first speak to your doctor. Then, talk to an attorney who handles bad drug lawsuits. He or she can advise you as to possible courses of legal action and determine whether you can recover damages.

How do you hire the right lawyer? Start by reading the following articles and using this handy personal injury attorney interview sheet.

Also be sure to read the following articles for more information:

• Negotiating lawyers fees - how do accident lawyers charge? Are there any hidden costs?
• Preparing to meet with a personal injury attorney
• How damages are calculated