can lyrica cause weight gain?

Q. I developed peripheral neuropathy two years ago. I suffered until a neurologist prescribed Lyrica twice a day. Although it has helped my symptoms, I have gained 25 pounds in the last six months. The increase in appetite is very difficult to control. I even wake up at night with hunger pains.

Is there anything to counteract this so I can lose the excess weight? Previously, I was in good health and walked briskly two miles daily. The neuropathy prevents that now.

A. Increased appetite is a recognized adverse reaction to your medication. This may explain why there is a clear connection between Lyrica and weight gain for many people.

There may also be a metabolic component that is not well understood. In other words, the drug may affect hormones like leptin and ghrelin, which impact weight.

Sleepiness and dizziness are common side effects of Lyrica. Some studies put the incidence of dizziness around 20 to 30 percent. Somnolence clocks in around 13 to 25 percent. When you feel tired and dizzy all the time, it is hard to move around let alone exercise. Lack of energy is another component to this triad.

There is also a brain fog component to the side effect profile of pregabalin. The official prescribing information describes this as confusion or abnormal thinking. This effect could lead to less motivation to exercise.

Some researchers have pointed out that weight gain is one of the most common side effects of Lyrica (Electrolyte & Blood Pressure, Dec. 2016).

It is hard to estimate with precision how many people are susceptible to Lyrica and weight gain. A small Japanese study offered the following adverse reactions (Pain Research & Management, Nov-Dec, 2014):

The official prescribing information presents data from a number of clinical trials. Lyrica and weight gain range from 4% to 16% depending upon the study.

As far as we know there are no antidotes to the weight problem. Some experts recommend a healthy diet and exercise. That’s always good advice, but it may not help many people if they have a voracious appetite from the drug and are dizzy and exhausted most of the day.

No one should ever stop Lyrica suddenly! The withdrawal symptoms can be daunting. Here is a link that describes this problem:

People who gain weight on Lyrica should discuss the problem with the prescriber. Always ask your doctor if there are other options for your nerve pain. Benfotiamine (a B vitamin derivative) might offer a different approach to treating neuropathy (PLOS One, Feb. 19, 2015).

Weight gain while you are taking Lyrica can be associated with higher doses and longer lengths of treatment. In studies, few patients (0.3%) stopped treatment due to weight gain.

Lyrica treatment may also cause peripheral edema (swelling of your hands, legs and feet), which can be associated with weight gain.

Weight gain was not associated with clinically important changes in blood pressure in short-term controlled studies, but the long-term effects of weight gain on heart safety due to Lyrica are unknown.

Patients with diabetes treated with Lyrica gained an average of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) compared to 0.3 kg (0.66 lb) in the placebo-treated patients.

There was a wide range of weight changes among these patients with diabetes.

In controlled and open-label longer term studies, Lyrica does not appear to be linked with loss of blood sugar control (HbA1c) in patients with diabetes.

Weight gain and fluid retention are known side effects of the thiazolidinedione antidiabetic drug class. Higher frequencies of weight gain and peripheral edema were seen in diabetes patients taking both Lyrica and a thiazolidinedione medicine (examples: rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) when compared to patients taking either drug alone.

Use caution if you are taking Lyrica with a thiazolidinedione medicine, as the combination may worsen or lead to heart failure. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any of the symptoms:

Besides weight gain, other common side effects with Lyrica include:

Lyrica can also cause some serious side effects, such as:

Lyrica may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

It’s possible that you may be at an increased risk of side effects if you take a higher dose of Lyrica. This is because taking a higher dose of medication exposes your body to more drug. And having more drug in your body can increase the possibility of side effects.

Lyrica is available in the following strengths:

Lyrica also comes as an oral solution that’s available in one strength: 20 mg of the drug per milliliter of liquid.

So, it’s possible that people taking a dose of 25 mg may have less side effects than someone taking a 200 mg dose. If you experience side effects during your treatment with Lyrica, talk with your doctor.

In most cases, older adults (age 65 years or older) will experience the same risk of side effects as younger adults. In clinical trials, there weren’t any differences in the safety or effectiveness of Lyrica in elderly or older adults, compared to younger adults.

However, in older adults taking Lyrica for fibromyalgia, the following side effects were reported more often than in younger adults:

If you’re an older adult and you’re concerned about the side effects from Lyrica, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss your risk of side effects and what to watch out for.

It’s possible for Lyrica to cause long-term side effects or even permanent side effects. However, long-term side effects from this medication are not common.

Some examples of long-term side effects are depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Rhabdomyolysis (which can cause damage to your organs, such as kidneys) can also lead to long-term side effects.

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects of Lyrica, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss your risk of side effects with you and the best ways to treat them. In some cases, if you’re aware of the symptoms of certain side effects and treat them right away, they may not be long-term.

Yes, there are some dangers of taking Lyrica. For example, this medication can cause sleepiness, dizziness, and blurry vision. This can impact your everyday life, including your ability to drive a car or other machinery. Due to these possible risks, it’s not recommended to drive a car, work with machines, or perform other activities until you know how the drug may affect you.

In addition, Lyrica can cause side effects, some of which can be dangerous. For example, the drug can increase your risk of depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. It can also increase your risk of rhabdomyolysis, which can cause long-term effects.

Lyrica is also a controlled substance. Controlled substances are regulated by the government because of their risk of misuse or dependence. Misuse of a drug means taking it in a way that’s different than how it was prescribed to you. Drug dependence can occur when your body needs a medication to function as usual. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a history of drug or alcohol misuse or dependence.

However, it’s important to note that Lyrica is FDA approved and has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment option for the conditions that it was approved for. If you’re concerned about the dangers of taking Lyrica, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Typically, you shouldn’t experience side effects from switching from gabapentin to Lyrica. However, abruptly stopping gabapentin may make symptoms worse. In rare cases, it may lead to new or worsening seizures.

It’s possible for your doctor to recommend switching from gabapentin to Lyrica. Both Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica (pregabalin) are FDA approved to treat certain seizure conditions and conditions causing nerve pain. For example, if you’re taking gabapentin and it isn’t working to manage your nerve pain or your seizures, your doctor may recommend trying Lyrica instead.

To avoid abruptly stopping or switching your medication, your doctor may develop a plan to slowly take you off gabapentin.