Lyrica and Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). People with fibromyalgia have "tender points" on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them. Other
fibromyalgia symptoms may include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Morning stiffness
- Headaches
- Painful menstrual periods
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
- Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog").
Lyrica is approved to treat fibromyalgia and is especially useful for relieving fibromyalgia pain.
Lyrica and Postherpetic Neuralgia
About one million people develop
shingles each year, and a number of them experience a complication called
postherpetic neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia is pain that is present in the affected area for months, or even years, after the
shingles rash has healed. The most bothersome of
postherpetic neuralgia symptoms is pain. The pain with postherpetic neuralgia may be described as agonizing, excruciating, burning, sharp, electric-like jabs, burning, throbbing, or aching. This pain can result in an inability to perform daily tasks of living.
Postherpetic neuralgia treatment usually involves medication. Lyrica is one of the medications approved to treat the pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia.
It is not known exactly how Lyrica works to prevent partial
seizures in people with
epilepsy. Additionally, it is not known exactly how Lyrica works for nerve pain or fibromyalgia. It is known that Lyrica binds to certain parts of
calcium channels in the central nervous system, and this may be how Lyrica works for
seizures, nerve pain, and
anxiety. Although Lyrica is not approved for
anxiety treatment, it has anti-anxiety properties and may be an effective
anxiety medication.
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