Pfizer reported yesterday in a press release that Lyrica reduced pain of fibromyalgia in patients regardless of whether they experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression at the beginning of the study. This news was according to a pooled analysis presented on Wednesday, 4/16/08, at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.
The study also revealed that patients self-reported improvements were more closely associated with improvements in pain and sleep than with improvements in fatigue or symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Dr. Lesley Arnold, one of the study authors said:
“The data showed that Lyrica reduced fibromyalgia pain, and alleviating that pain was associated with patients overall feeling of well-being. Understandably, many patients with a chronic pain condition such as fibromyalgia also experience depression and anxiety, and importantly we found that Lyrica helped reduce pain in patients regardless of the presence of symptoms of these co-morbid conditions.
Lyrica is prescribed in the U.S. for treating Fibromyalgia and also for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles), and as adjunctive therapy for adults with partial onset seizures
I think my biggest worry about Lyrica is that it can cause significant weight gain. I have also heard some people say that it helps for a while and then ceases to work. Personally, I will watch it for a while before I agree to take it. Then again, I always tend to be skeptical about new meds. 🙂
Hi Kathleen, I’m not in any hurry to try Lyrica either. I definitely do not need anymore weight gain – ugh!
I now am taking Lyrica, I have been for 2months, I take it severe lower back pain, I have not gained any weight or any side effects, it takes away 75% of my pain, in my back as well as my knees. I would advise anyone to try it. Most people listen to others who grip about everything any disassociate your self from depressed people. You will fine you fill better .
I just started taking lyrica for the first time as of now. Side effects were minimal except for some dizziness at first and a very itchy nose. These went away within an hour. I do have a bit of anxiety and a faster heartbeat. It has completely leveled my chronic pain in my throat which has nerve damage from a cervical fusion back in 1992. So far so good. my dosage is 75m at supper time just once a day.
i try to manage my anxiety and depression using food supplements like Tryptophan, 5-HTP and GABA.
I have both Anxiety and Depression. This is the wost sickness that you could possibly have in this world. I try to mange it naturally using 5-HTP food supplements.