Lyrica
® (
pregabalin) is commonly prescribed for the treatment of
epilepsy,
fibromyalgia, and chronic nerve pain. Several studies have been done to look at the specific effects of this drug for these various conditions.
Nerve Pain
Six studies have evaluated the effectiveness of Lyrica for treating nerve pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or
postherpetic neuralgia. In these studies, people who took the drug experienced less pain, compared to those not taking it. Some people experienced pain relief quickly, within one week of starting treatment.
Fibromyalgia
In two different studies, Lyrica was shown to be effective for treating pain due to fibromyalgia. Some people taking the medication experienced pain relief as quickly as within one week. In general, these studies found that 600 mg per day was not more effective (but caused more side effects) than 450 mg per day.
Epilepsy
Lyrica was evaluated in three studies for treating partial
seizures in people with epilepsy. These studies included people who were already taking one to three other
seizure medications and whose seizures were not adequately controlled. Depending on the dose, people who added Lyrica to their existing seizure medications decreased their number of seizures per month by up to 51 percent.
(Click Lyrica for more information about Lyrica's effects, to find out how this medication works for these various conditions, and to learn about the warnings and precautions associated with this medicine.)
