Should You Use Lyrica to Manage Your Fibromyalgia?

Lyrica by Pfizer had already been used for the pain associated with diabetes nerve damage and used to treat pain from nerve damage of shingles.

Lyrica can also help lower the number of seizures for people who are already taking medication for seizures.

On June 21, 2007 Lyrica was the first FDA approved medicine for Fibromyalgia.

As a person that suffers from Fibromyalgia, this sounded wonderful to me.
It said Lyrica could help decrease the pain and help improve the function for people with Fibromyalgia. People taking Lyrica have reported significant improvement in sleep.

1800 people participated in randomized, placebo-controlled trials to find the effectiveness of Lyrica. These trials showed using doses of 300mg and 450 mg per day, reduced pain and helped improve functioning, some reporting relief as early as within a week of treatment.

I went to my doctor to find out more about Lyrica. He said he found that they were having good results with the medicine, but worried about the adverse side effects. He gave me a sample and told me to read the patient information leaflet thoroughly and if I decided it was for me. He would then write out a prescription.

As I read the leaflet it stated that it had common side effects which included dizziness, sleepiness, trouble concentrating, dry mouth, swelling of hands and feet, burred vision and weight gain. If you use or know of medicines, these can be some common side effects on a lot of them.

But as I read the leaflet I began to have second thoughts about starting Lyrica. The leaflet stated in the controlled trials for the people with Fibromyalgia, there were emergent adverse reactions incidences that needed medical treatment in at least 2% of the patients taking Lyrica than the patients that received the placebo.

Mentioned in this part of the pamphlet that are not printed above are fatigue, chest pain, feeling drunk, sinusitis, fluid retention, arthralgia, muscle spasms, back pain, memory, lethargy, tremor, disorientation, depression and respiratory problems.

It also states for males to tell your doctor if you are planning on having a child. Studies have showed in animals, that Lyrica made the male animals less fertile, caused sperm abnormalities and birth defects in the offspring of male animals. They do not know if these effects would happen in humans.

Even though these were in a small percentage of patients, I decided Lyrica was not for me. I am not saying this is not a good medicine or that it is not good for others with Fibromyalgia. I am just saying that it was not one that I wanted to choose for myself.

As a Fibromyalgia patient, you and your doctor together should decide if Lyrica is right for you.

Males: Tell your doctor if you are planning on having a child. Studies on animals have showed Lyrica made the male animals less fertile, caused sperm abnormalities and birth defects in the offspring of male animals. They do not know if these effects would happen in humans.

Resources:

Pfizer Patient information leaflet
Pfizer News article for professionals
Drugs.com