Lyrica and Weight Gain? Yes or No?

I have been on and off lyrica 3 times now. Each time I gain a few pounds, and then when I come off, the weight comes off. I use it during the bad times of the year, which for me is during the summer here in Fl The weather pressure changes effect me a whole lot, and the Lyrica helps. I have RSD and Fibromyalgia.lheck

Dear Snowgoer68, My heart goes out to you. I understand how it is when you can't exercise, are restricted to a wheelchair and need to eat to survive. But 500-600 calories are too few. Your body will hold onto the weight because it thinks it's starving, which it is. You need at least double that amount, possibly triple, just to keep your heart, brain and other organs healthy. In addition, being in the chair atrophies your muscles, decreases your bone density and impairs your balance. You need protein! You need to eat, honey, to keep healthy. I've just lost all the weight I gained on Lyrica and the other fibro drugs and I did it on 1200-1500 calories a day after a nutritionist and a personal trainer talked me into increasing my caloric intake. They explained to me that too few calories can actually put on weight because it alters my metabolism and "set point". Eat, just eat good stuff. Lots of vegies and lean protein. Good luck to you.

Definitely yes on the weight gain. I have been on Lyrica for a year now and I have gained almost 30lb! I take it for spinal stenosis and it does help. I have stopped cortisone shots. But with all this weight it isn't going to help! Let me know how you do. I am curious to see what others think too.

I also take lyrica, have taken it for about 2 years. i also have noticed weight gain. The pain relief to me is astounding and worth the hazard of gaining additional pounds. Not that I want to gain weight,I am already obese, I weigh 250lbs and I am 5ft2 but you have to accept thepro's with the con's. Good luck to you and god bless

The methadone has caused me to gain over 100 pds. so if you didn't gain much weight on that medication then whatever the LYRICA will do will be very minor? I used to be on both, but the methadone slowed my metabolism down so much I had problems with urinary & bowels ever since then. I wished I would have never got on the medication. BUT, they don't give poor folks many choices. It's either get on it or suffer. I didn't want to use illicit drugs to kill my pain anymore. SO,let me know how it goes. I wanted to know I am off all drugs except for the methadone for pain now. I am looking into other options so I can get off that drug. It's been too long (over 5yrs). I hope that you will do well as can be exspected, sounds like you deserve some relief now.

i was once prescribed lyrica from my dr for pain, but after looking it up and seen weight gain as side affect i didnt even try, im assuming it does have a lot to do with weight gain

Some of the most common side effects of LYRICA are dizziness, blurry vision, weight gain, sleepiness, trouble concentrating, swelling of your hands and feet, dry mouth, and feeling "high". If you have diabetes, tell your doctor about any skin sores.

I was on lyrica for 2 years and although it helped the pain I gained a lot of weight. I decided, because of cost and the fact I developed diabetes (another side effect) I would quit taking it. As soon as I quit I started losing weight. I lost 27 lbs and was back at my normal weight and stabilized there. My legs swelled as did my hands..I even noticed the difference with my shoes. So as far as I am concerned lyrica bears watching. Make sure you get your blood sugar levels checked from time to time...

Hi their, I just wanted to respond and let you know that I gained 50lbs. I have been taking Lyrica for almost 9 months. So, of course the weight gain has now led me into a depression!! Ughh.. So frustrating!! It has helped with the pains I must say") I'm about to switch to a different medicine a friend told me about, which she says works way better than Lyrica and you don't gain weight. It's Neurontin generic name is gabapentin!!! She swears by it") hope this helps ya out!! GOod Luck with everything!! God Bless")

yes i gained 100lbs on lyrica the year but my dose is 150mg 3x per day and the weight is coming off very rapidly within a 6 month period i lost the 100 lbs. I also had a gastric bypass 21 trs ago so i dont know if the high dose had anything to do with that and the gastic bypass, I will tell you this i wont give up this drug for anything else because it works for anxiety more than anything. I hope this imfo helps you. If you want to know anything more just ask or add me as a friend,

I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome among a host of other nasty illnesses. I have had them for over 27 years. I like you, was on Lyrica and I had to stop it because of the weight gain and water gain. Lyrica is known for it's weight gain although I know fellow FMS sufferers who swear by it. I personally take Cymbalta and it works great. I also have a spinal cord stimulator and it works wonderfully. If you would like to talk about the stimulator
My name is Karen.

wow lots of responses, so ill try to keep it short. lyrica did cause weight gain for me, but my pain and mood while on it is fantastic. and energy was pretty good too. the weight gain seemed too much, so i am presently trying other anticonvulsants, but not sure if they are as good. topamax on the other hand, helped pain, and helped mood a little bit, but made me an insomniac, and couldn't sleep or had trouble sleeping for about 5-6 days while on it. it's definitely a good drug though for some people. i didnt lose weight while on it.

I have to say yes and also hair loss i have had both with it i only take aspren with my lyrica to help pain but i don't like pain meds and it does help with pain and if your on pain meds that long what is the differanc for the other things i have been in pain from the age of 5 and i am 55 now but try to get away from any thing hard any pain is to much pain as far as i see but doctors are to easy to give pain meds and not realy help

When I was on 150mg 3xday, I found that my appetite inceased greatly and I was eating way more than usual. I tried to control it but that was very, very hard for me to do. So needless to say, I gained quite a bit of weight. Because of this, I have decreased my intake to one 150mg pill a day with of course my doctors approval. My appetite is now under control and I eat small normal portions. Before I started Lyrica searched online for the same question and the majority of people have had weight gain and dry mouth as the most common side effects and that has been true for me. Good Luck!