How long does it take for Lyrica (pregabalin) to work?
Key Points
- In clinical studies with Lyrica (pregabalin) some patients experienced a decrease in pain as early as the first week, which persisted during the entire study period.
- These studies looked at fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, spinal cord injury nerve pain, and pain after shingles. The length of the studies ranged from 5 weeks to 13 weeks long.
- Your results may vary. Lyrica begins working right away but for some people it may take several weeks to feel the pain-relieving effects from Lyrica.
If you are not feeling the pain relief you expect, contact your doctor, who may need to adjust your dose or reassess your pain level.
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Can you take Lyrica long-term?
You should take Lyrica every day as prescribed by your doctor. Many people will take Lyrica long-term to help control their pain or seizures.
Don’t stop taking Lyrica without talking to your doctor first. If you need to stop taking Lyrica, your doctor will slowly discontinue it over a period of time, usually at least one week.
Abruptly stopping Lyrica may lead to side effects such as headaches, diarrhea, nausea, anxiety, problems with sleep, and increased sweating. If you take Lyrica for epilepsy and suddenly stop your medicine, your seizures may occur more often.
This is not all the information you need to know about Lyrica for safe and effective use. Review the full Lyrica (pregabalin) information here, and discuss this information and any questions with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- Lyrica (pregbablin). Prescribing information. Pfizer, NY, NY. Accessed May 25, 2021 at http://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=561#section-12.2
- FAQs. Lyrica.com. Pfizer. Accessed May 25, 2021 at https://www.lyrica.com/frequently-asked-questions
Read next
Can you stop Lyrica (pregabalin) cold turkey?
Only in certain circumstances should you should stop taking Lyrica or Lyrica CR (pregabalin) right away. You should stop taking this medicine if your doctor has told you to stop immediately; you are having a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction; you have developed angioedema (swelling and build-up of fluid under your skin, usually in the facial or gential area), or you have trouble breathing (for example: shortness of breath, wheezing). If any of these reactions do occur, stop taking the medicine and call your healthcare provider or emergency medical services (911) right away. Continue reading
Is Lyrica (pregabalin) a controlled substance / narcotic?
Lyrica (pregabalin) is a Schedule V (Schedule 5) controlled substance, the lowest schedule for abuse potential, as defined by the DEA. It is not a narcotic (opioid), but is used to treat various types of nerve pain (diabetic neuropathy, herpes zoster), as well as epilepsy, fibromyalgia and spinal cord injury. Continue reading
Does Lyrica (pregabalin) make you sleepy?
Yes, Lyrica (pregabalin) can cause significant drowsiness (somnolence) and dizziness which may affect your ability to drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities. This may lead to an injury or fall, so use caution. In studies, 23% of adults experienced drowsiness and 30% had dizziness as a side effect.
Continue readingSee also:
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