My doctor has just put me on Lyrica. In fact, I haven't taken my first dose yet. My question is about the weight gain. Can you work to keep the weight off, or is there no help for it? I know with some drugs it doesn't matter how hard you try, the weight just seems to build up. I certainly don't need that! But, I do need something to help this FM pain. Thanks for any help you can give me
Lyrica - is there any way to avoid the weight gain?
Question posted by Mimi-3 on 8 Aug 2012
Last updated on 31 August 2022
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18 Answers Page 2
TC67
7 Sep 2012
I hope you haven't started taking Lyrica. It is the most horrendous drug out there. The side effects are simply dreadful. As you ask specifically about the weight gain, I can tell you all about that. I was only Lyrica for only three months and the weight gain was frightening. I am a very active person, I do not eat any foods that are fattening or unhealthy, I don't use sugar, eat chocolates, sweets or cakes, pies or chips. I eat salads, chicken with no skin, I drink fat free milk, so I know my diet has nothing to do with the huge weight gain I experienced while using Lyrica. And this happened almost immediately. All the weight gain is in my upper body, especially around my stomach area. I look 6 months pregnant. It doesn't matter what I do to try and move this slab of fat around my middle, nothing helps. My upper arms, neck, back, and of course the stomach area has a puffy and swollen look.
I am 1.65m, and have a small frame, so I can't afford to put on weight. If I do pick up a couple of kilo's over the holiday season, I make a concerted effort to get rid of it quickly. Now thanks to Lyrica, I am stuck with this unsightly tyre around my midsection. And might I add, that although it helped with my nerve pain, if I had known weight gain was a side effect, I would NEVER have taken it. The other side effects are loss of feeling in your hands, feet, arms, legs, tingling, sharp shooting pains, swelling, dry mouth, severe joint pain in the knees, elbows and ankles, the list is endless. I believe Lyrica also slows down your metabolism. I have a permanent pain around my whole ribcage now, oh and it makes your thought process wonky. I have started walking 10kms three times a week in an effort to try lose the weight. I don't know what else to do, its been 5 months since I stopped taking Lyrica, and this extra weight is showing absolutely no sign of going away. You would probably have to virtually starve yourself to ensure no weight gain, but I don't believe this will make any difference whatsoever. Even on a restricted calorie diet, you will still pack on the weight. I took myself off the Lyrica without consulting my GP. I would rather live with the pain than experience excessive weight gain and the other multitude of side effects. Do not whatever you do start taking this toxic drug. Even though I have read some people (they are surely in the minority) do not suffer any or few side effects, there are far too many people who DO suffer major side effects and spend the rest of their lives regretting ever taking this medication. Throw away that box of Lyrica.
fibro biatch
17 Sep 2014
I'm sorry to hear what happened to you with lyrica I had the same problem its been 3 or 4 years and I still haven't been able to get the weight that I gained from the lyrica off but I'm in so much pain I don't know what I should do I thought about taking it again just because of the pain I can't take it anymore!
samrae
26 June 2017
My life story is almost identical but I haven't the courage to just take myself off it, I only wish I could. My weight has doubled. I want to be able to chase after my granddaughter. I don't smile or laugh anymore, the weight gain is horrible.
Czimmer54
16 March 2018
After 63 years of following a healthy diet and staying at or close to my high school weight with very little effort. Unfortunately, my health has taken a nose dive. I can no longer walk or exercise. I was prescribed Lyrica and have gained 20 lbs. in 8 months. For the past eight months, I've eaten very little. So my question is how do you "maintain" weight when you can't exercise and can't do without the Lyrica?
JeanetteTE
24 April 2018
I tried Gabapentin before. Same horrendous weight gain but maybe slightly less. The other side effects were multiple and severe huge rapid hand movements, couldn't remember things from 2 minutes before (like turning the heating off, swelling in legs, ankles and feet, etc, etc.
Pregabalin has made me increase in size rapidly with huge spare tyre round middle, legs increased in size and a toad face and neck.I am also experiencing quick, sharp heart pain. Having said that the excruciating neuropathic pain is much better (but not the rest of the body pain) for that I am grateful as it was soooo painful and activated even by the breeze created by my hand moving through the air as I walked.
My question is ... does the weight gain reverse over time? Are there meds to take to reverse it eg diuretics?
Would appreciate any input. Thanks for any help.
cindy-59
27 Oct 2018
Hi Jeanette. I was taking Lyrica (Pregabalin) for 7-8 years and I’ve been taking Cymbalta for over 10 years. I finally finished slowly tapering off Lyrica in June last year (2017) and I’m almost finished tapering off Cymbalta. I’ve talked to many people about whether they lost their weight and most of them said that once they were completely off the medication the weight just dropped off. Well I gained over 80 pounds during the years of taking these medications and I was so afraid that I would never lose it. I was always small even after having my 5 children but Lyrica and Cymbalta changed that. These drugs mess with our metabolism. A couple months ago it started to feel different when I put my clothes on. I realized that I had started to lose a bit of weight. The closer I get to the end of this horrible medication the more weight I am losing. I’m too tired to exercise and I don’t get out much so I know it’s from going off the medications.
I can’t wait to get completely off and be healthy again. I have lost a lot of years because of these medications and I’m going to work at getting them back. There is hope after these types of drugs. I know from experience and I’m sure that you will find the same. I hope I made sense in this message. I am really feeling it from my last taper. ‘The Discontinuation Syndrome’ can take it’s toll on the body and the brain. Take care and I wish you the best. Cindy
Delila
9 Aug 2012
Hi, there is hope. Unfortunately not an easy answer though. The basic eating healthily and regularly and exercising is the solution. But when you add these weight gaining meds, you just have to work twice as hard at it. Be strict and regimental with you routine and you can beat this side effect. I can't guarantee you won't gain ANY weight, but if you work hard it shouldn't be a disaster.
kaismama
8 Aug 2012
I gained alot of weight with it, but I gain weight easily. I don't know what would happen for someone who normally has no weight problem.
Inactive
9 Aug 2012
All I have to do is look at food to gain weight. Add psych meds on top, and I get blimpish!
Weight gain isn't inevitable, just don't eat more than usual. You'll be fine and hopefully less pain.
Hippie
Rnazarkewich01
25 Oct 2018
Now once I started anti depression meds I ballooned
Rnazarkewich01
25 Oct 2018
Now once I started anti depression meds I ballooned
Related topics
lyrica, weight loss (obesity/overweight), fibromyalgia, weight, doctor
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- Lyrica uses and safety info
- Lyrica prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lyrica (detailed)
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