Lyrica works well for me. I suffer from chronic pain due to 6 ruptured 6... 4 in my neck and 2 huge ones in my lower bato from an auto accident where I got rear ended. I believe I got fibromyalgia due to the accident. My pain is terrible to the point where I take Zofran for nausea. My pcp did blood ak my ANA came back positive possibly meaning I have Lupus. Im so nervous my moms cousin passed away @ an early age due to the disease. Im only 30 I have 3 kids. I can't work I filed for disability and go to my hearing in July... I pray I get it. Im on methadone xanax Lyrica norco robaxin lidoderm patches dyazide b/c lately my bp has been 160's/100's im not sure why and I've gained 30lbs since on Lyrica which is not good for my back. Also im anemic and take prescription strength iron. Im so depressed I wish I could be the same person I was before the accident in Sept 2010. Anyone with any comments to share... I would love to talk to someone who can relate to what im going thru :(
What can I do to stop weight gain caused by Lyrica?
Question posted by nledesma1981 on 16 June 2012
Last updated on 16 March 2021
37 Answers Page 2
I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have Fibromyalgia and back pain from car accidents also. I had back surgery in 2001. I am on Lyrica and have gained weight too. I have taken to walking and pilates. Stretching is one of the best things and core strengthing. I am not sure what you are able to do physically. I have done accupuncture. It halped me immensely with the chronic pain. It did not hurt at all. I hope something will help you.
God can help you in so many ways.
I know "all things work together for good to them that Love God and are called according to his purpose." Just keep praying and ask God for wisdom. Ask him to show you grace and a way to cope with all this. I will pray for you also.
I was curious to know if Lyrica worked for pain and am happy to find out it does for some. I don't know how I feel about the possibility of gaining weight when I just worked really hard to lose some, while in pain. I guess I should just think that if I don't have pain I'll be able to work out more and keep the weight off while building muscle with the extra weight I may or may not gain due to the Lyrica. Sorry I'm long winded, but I don't seem to know many people that understand the kind of pain I deal with. I just get crazy looks like I'm too young to be having these problems. I suffer from chronic pain, I've been told I have everything from neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and now lateral femoral syndrome. My main problem is not having the best insurance. It doesn't help or pay for anything that would probably help my pain. I'm dealing with disability people now and feel it's really hard to get someone that doesn't have your pain to know exactly what you're going through.
You sound like me, I was in a bad car accident, the woman was putting on lipstick and hadn't realised I had stopped, her car was a write off when she went into the back of me. I had my head turned as now my neck is terrible with pains in my arms, plus 4 prolapsed discs and one starting to deteriorate. The impact was so bad that I had a large swelling at the base of my spine with fluid in it, took ages to stop hurting and is still there.
I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia. Due to terrific nerve pains 24/7 my Lyrica was tripled. I put on 2.5 stones in 3 months which put a strain on my back and also diabetic. Of course the Lyrica helped but I stopped it and have lost 1.5 stone, still another one to go.
My GP still says it is not a common side affect but it really is. I would have stayed on steroids but for the weight gain and my hair falling out.
I am also sick a lot, I vomit if I get ill or too hot and have to take a special tablet or have an injection to stop me. Lots of food make me sick so I have tablets to take, I don't take them every day as fed up with so many tablets to take each day.
My company were just awful, I had so many emergency admittances to hospital as the Lupus affects my kidneys and my liver has always been a problem. I had to give up work on Drs orders.
I also have high blood pressure and take tablets.
I take methotrexate for my Lupus as other tablets I've been allergic too and affects my kidneys.
I did have pernicious anemia but now it is a bit better.
It is depressing, I will never be the same person, but life does go on.
Come off the Lyrica, putting on weight is depressing and makes it harder to do things. See what else you can take. I've just had 6 injections into my spine, doesn't last for ever but really helps.
I'm so sorry you're suffering so much. I had an accident in 2000 and it turned my world upside down, too. I take a laundry list of drugs as well, and gained 30+ lbs from lyrica. It works too well to stop, and I'm currently working my weight down. 10 lbs so far, my doc was happy.
Water is a great way, lemon water is wonderful. There are all kinds of great-tasting, sugar free flavors. I've cut out sweets except on rare occasions, and eat more fruits and vegetables. Controlling the munchies is more than my willpower will allow, so I've changed snacks. Pickles, olives, jarred sweet beets and things like that will handle any craving from sweet to salty with few calories. I'm also practicing what little yoga my body will allow (I was crushed, then basically rebuilt) Walking is difficult, but doable. I'm also able to use a stationary bike. Even when you feel like heck try to do at least a little something.
It gets easier, and losing the weight makes it easier as you go along.
Best of luck to you, and I hope your depression eases. Once you see just a little progress it may lift your spirits. Take care :)
Oh my goodness, I think you take more meds than me! I am 47 now and it all started when I was 40 and started having pain in my legs and it took 3 years for them to diagnose me. I had a reversed curve in my neck and they said I was very close to being a paraplegic . I had 3-4-5 vertabraes in my neck fused and had cadivor bones in my neck. I got rear ended twice so that tore up my lower back , so I had surgery on my 4-5 and had them fused and a rod put in my back because my disks were slipped.
So to make s REAL long story short, the surgeon decided he was going to go through my stomach so the nerves in my back aren't bothered, because I already had facet disease and cervical stenosis. They put a hole in my colon while sowing my incision back together, I was sent home sick as s dog. Went back to the ER and they had to do an emergency surgery and they removed 6 inches of my colon.
Came home after a month in the hospital and had ecoli drained from my stomach etc..4 blood transfusions and then came home and 2 weeks later, back to the ER because my nurse checked my BP and it was 70/50... I was rushed to the ER by ambulance and ended up , they said I had a blockage in my small intestine, so they had to remove 12 inches of my intestine. So 3 major surgeries in 4 weeks, 2 months in the hospital and bedridden for a month. I was put on lyrica a few months ago and have gained 20'lbs. I researched Lyrica and this is the first site I've found
Cannabis oil ladies!! It may not work for all of you but it will work for most. It can replace all pharma drugs and keep you pain free and healthy. You have to think of the long term damage all these drugs are doing to your system. Dont take my word for it, do your own reaserch :)
Don't you have to live in a state where it's legal?
Hi, am on 600mg of Lyrica a day for hypomobility and arthritis in my back, knees and hands, unfortunately it's now starting on my shoulder and am only 34 had it for 2 years now. I started taking Lyrica 5 months ago and already i have gained over 4 stone in weight :-( i was i nice size 12 now am up to a size 20, and as you can imagine this is doing no good to the strain on my back and knees. Physios helps a little so does the injections to my back and knees but am just on a cocktail of drugs and on a strict diet but the weight still keeps piling on and there is nothing i can do about it, i wish there was another drug out there that worked without the side effects of Lyrica.
Hi, I've never posted to a site before but came upon this site while trying to find out the cause of all my weight gain, which I mostly attribute to the Lyrica. Also I find comfort and appreciate the ideas of others in how they are dealing with their pain issues, as it seems like all of the comments include one or, more often, several of the same issues I'm dealing with.
I have Systemic Scleroderma, Raynauds, fibromyalgia, chronic pain due to other causes, have had an L5-S1 discectomy with fusion, cervical arthritis and degenerative disc disease, major migraines even after Botox injections recently that had previously helped, osteoarthritis in both knees, and my newest diagnosis of 'splayed feet,' which makes it difficult to walk or just wear shoes so I'm having surgery on both feet separately this year.
Your posting caught my eye because I was just wondering yesterday, if there was anything else out there like Lyrica but without all the side effects.
I've been on Lyrica for about 7 yrs now ( on 425mg daily currently) and had put on 60lbs in probably the first year. When I cut sugar from my diet, I ended up dropping 25lbs very quickly. I was not aware of the connection between Lyrica and B6 depletion and water retention so will be researching that more.
But back to our shared question of a possible alternative to Lyrica. My Rheumatologist initially started me on Savella. But, because it is a serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, it leaves more of those chemicals in the bloodstream and caused horrendous flushing and sweating with the slightest activity. At the time, I was a full-time RN working 12 hr shifts and running my butt off all day. That, of course, kept me in a perpetual state of high heart rate, flushing, and just dripping sweat constantly. But, otherwise, it was a great drug for relief of pain. I actually had no pain while I was on it but, unfortunately, could not put up with the side effects I mentioned and thus was put on Lyrica. Maybe that would be an alternative med for you to discuss with your doctor, though.
I also see a pain specialist. If you aren't already, I would definitely get a referral to one. They do have a lot more ideas of options that may help you better. I'm also starting to work with a yoga instructor who also has fibro, has had the same back surgery I did, and also 3 cervical spine surgeries. She says she has been trained recently in a yoga specifically designed for people like us with severe pain issues and says it works wonders. So I'm willing to try it, though I am not a very flexible person. Maybe you could also look in your area for a yoga class for people with chronic pain. I just know I have to start moving my body a lot more and, since I can't walk, this sounded like a reasonable way to begin.
So I hope I've given you some helpful information. Let's just try to keep going one day at a time.
My best to you. Take care and keep us updated.
Believe the poster below you , John is on to something regarding B6 deficiency and water retention. Also adding this drug effects the gaba receptors in your brain. This drug along with anti depressants , opioids, and muscle relaxants which cross the blood/brain barrier are designed to play with a myriad of receptors in your brain. Untreated chronic pain does this too. Pain relief is too important for quality of life and better mobility, if something works, stick to it and deal with the weight gain with supplementation of all your water soluble vitamins and minerals your body cannot make or eliminates every day ( B vitamins , vitamin C,potassium ,etc). Then supplement the amino acids your drug uses up in your neurons to work. These are called nootropics . In the case of lyrica, nootropics which boost both serotonin and gaba will help make the drug more effective, possibly lowering your dose and replenish what the drug takes away.
Finally, inform your doctor about the supplements to ensure drug/ supplement compatibility because what works for your friend on this board or your neighbor could be unsafe for you for many reasons. Taking control and educating yourself means you are an informed patient who will receive better care over the long haul.
Dear Sonicsusie - what you write seems very interesting. Can you explain further? If you write, B vitamin, vitamin c, potassium, etc... what do you mean with etc.? Is there any vitamin especially important which we should substitute?
Supplement of amino acids: which ones, linked to Lyrica?
Nootropics - if I google this in the Internet, I get confusing information - is there any particular you recommend, did you try this out linked to Lyrica?
I just started with Pregabaline some days ago and already I gained weight without eating more, abdominal swelling :-(... I will fight against this with all means! Am going to see an Ayurveda doctor this afternoon , curious what she will recommend. I have already bought nettle tea and asparagus capsules...
perhaps such natural diuretics help? Natural antioxidants like grape seed extract? I will try out everything! (I was also prescribed a low dosis of Trittico, an antidepressive medication, which I should add to Pregabaline, did not take it so far, but perhaps i will try this as well... )
Good wishes and thanks to all of you! It is wonderful that such pages exist...
Hi I have a prolapse c6 c7 disc, degenerate disc disease and arthritis in my neck. I also have been on lyrica for 5 months now and gained nearly 20kg. It's not helping with pain even though I'm on 600mg a day plus 200mg tramadol Sr. I'm a small frame person so going from 53kg to 70kg is really uncomfortable I feel your anguish.
Thank you, I started taking Lyrica for prolapsed disks (4) in my neck plus nerve damage in my shoulder from 2 failed surgeries. I am putting on so much weight and so quickly. Im normally only around 60kgs so getting on the scales today and reading 77kg I am horrified. Im on 150gms a day and am suffering from weight gain, strange headaches, tiredness and its still not doing much for the pain. The Drs want me to increase the dose but I dont want to end up looking like a blimp. Thanks again
I can relate 100%. I have about the same health problems, take the same MED's and I have gained 35 pounds in a little over 2 years from lyrica. Trust me, the weight gain does not slow down or stop until you can stop taking lyrica. As u start to take less & less u will start to lose weight. The lower the dose the more weight u will lose. I know its scarey to stop a medication that helps the pain so much but I can tell u first hand u won't feel worse once u are off lyrics because the combination of MED's u r taking pretty much help the same way. In the mean time, lots of water & No sweets! God bless u! I wish u the best.:)
You are so young to have to deal with all the pain and care for your children
while enduring it
I would encourage you to Definitely drink lots of water (like 8 glasses a day) Try to get a friend to walk with you, start slowly and increasing time as you can. If you were getting outpatient therapy, they would have you walking. It really helps. Being inactive increases pain and discomfort. Good luck to you in your quest for better health and comfort.
Hi, I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia also, and problems with my eyes. After 2 car accidents I have 3 prolapsed discs and one disintegrating. Despite having fluid loss which culminated in the bottom part of my spine swelling it has been hard to get the proper painkillers with my new GP's.
I have nerve pain 24/7 and the Pregabalin (Lyrica) does from my GP was a joke, just 25mg per day. So I was sleeping just 2.5 hours per night and only when I was exhausted. I found a way around this by seeing other Drs although I am on an at risk list due to my emergency trips to hosptial. I've now been give 150mg per day which helps with the nerve pain but nothing for my back. I have a cortisone injection app. at the local hospital in just over a week's time.
I'm worried about my weight as I have put on half a stone already.
I was on steroids for a year which really make me bloated and it was horrible to try to get off them, which I did. Now don't know what to do.
I go to the hospital for injections and am on 200 mg of lyrica for nerve pain in my back. It's started to help but I have gained almost 12 pounds in 1.5 months and I can see and feel the swelling in my legs.
I too have gained over 30 lbs. in about a year - which doesn't help with back pain which makes it worse. It is a good med, but I told my doctor I had to get off of it due to weight gain. Now, it's extra difficult to lose it!
I tried Lyrica when it first came out and gained 35 pounds in 3 months. It didn't help me with my fibromyalgia or headaches so I stopped taking it. The added weight made my knees and ankles hurt too bad to go on walks and I decided to never ever take any med that causes me to gain weight. The problems associated with being too heavy are many and you all probably know what I mean, but nothing is worth it too me. How I lost the weight it to STOP taking Lyrica. I took 4 months to lose the weight. I don't remember doing anything special either. Losing the pounds made me feel better and better making me want to do more physically and that was the trick.
I'm remembering now how when I was on it and started eating, I would never feel the "full" feeling, so I would keep eating. But I also remember that after I stopped taking it, all was back to normal.
The fact that you are feeling better with taking it would make it difficult to stop for weight loss. That's a tough one.
I have read a ton of Lyrica stories on social media and have found that more people have had negative results than positive. It has been out for what about 7 years?? Good luck to you.
Omg its like your my twin when I read what you wrote my jaw dropped I had the same thing happen to me and I'm going through the same exact thing minus the kids but everything from im 31 got sick aftet a bad car accident, applying for disability and possible lupus from pos ANA... ITS been a while since your post any updates
I have searched extensively The effects of Lyrica & anticonvulsant drugs that contain Lyrica ( Pregabalin for example), I believe that the following may explain the weight gain caused by Lyrica.
Lyrica commonly causes severe vitamin b6 deficiency (which is very dangerous) One of the most dominant vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms in adults is weight gain (due to water retention in the body), search B6 deficiency + weight gain.
Also search the internet for Lyrica + B6 deficiency to be sure that I am right, ironically B6 deficiency can also cause seizures or fits which is exactly what anticonvulsant drugs like Lyrica are designed to prevent, check this yourself search B6 deficiency + seizures. Your medical doctor will not tell you this.
I believe that my wife"s myelodysplastic syndrome (pre Leukemia) was caused by severe & chronic B6 deficiency caused by Lyrica, some of the effects of B6 deficiency are irreversible so check this info now.
B6 deficiency causes bone marrow suppression & interrupts the correct formation of blood cells, can cause Anemia, & neutropenia ( a white cell for immune system) this is common in B6 deficient alcoholics, if the the suppression is prolonged the damage can become irreversible & could develop into Leukemia.
Lyrica commonly causes Severe B6 deficiency, please search the internet to verify this, it is not difficult to find.
Be well,,John
I a man so grateful that you shared this!!! I have a genetic issue that leaches Vit B as it is and I have gained about 15 pounds. Also I became anemic and had to have treatments for it. Eternally grateful John!! You blessed me today.
I am so grateful that you shared this!!! I have a genetic issue that leaches Vit B as it is and I have gained about 15 pounds. Also I became anemic and had to have treatments for it. Eternally grateful John!! You blessed me today.
Related topics
lyrica, weight loss (obesity/overweight), pain, fibromyalgia, weight, chronic
Further information
- Lyrica uses and safety info
- Lyrica prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lyrica (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
