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Frequently Asked Questions

This page answers common questions patients may have when taking LYRICA. If you have just started taking LYRICA, you may be interested in LYRICA ANSWERS. As you begin your treatment, LYRICA ANSWERS will help you know what to expect and how to best partner with your doctor. LYRICA ANSWERS is a resource designed specifically to give new patients like you the right information at the right time.


LYRICA (LEER-i-kah) is a prescription medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage 3 difficult-to-treat nerve pain conditions—fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, and pain after shingles. In clinical studies, LYRICA was proven to effectively relieve nerve pain resulting from these conditions compared with a placebo.*

In clinical studies, LYRICA was also proven as an add-on therapy to significantly reduce the frequency of partial onset seizures in adults compared with a placebo.*

*Individual results may vary.
LYRICA is believed to work within your body to calm the damaged or overactive nerves that cause pain. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, results from animal studies suggest that LYRICA works by calming damaged or overactive nerves that cause pain or seizures. The implication of these studies in humans is not known.
It may take time for LYRICA to work. In clinical studies, some patients felt less pain in as soon as 1 week. For others it took longer.* If you aren't feeling the pain relief you expect, there may be things your doctor can do to help. Talk to your doctor to find out if adjusting your dose may be right for you.

*Individual results may vary.
In clinical studies, the 2 most common side effects of LYRICA were dizziness and sleepiness. Dizziness occurred in 31% of LYRICA patients compared with 9% of patients taking a placebo. And sleepiness occurred in 22% of LYRICA patients compared with 7% of patients taking a placebo. These studies showed that, on average, dizziness went away after 2½ weeks, and sleepiness went away after approximately 5 weeks. For some patients, dizziness and sleepiness lasted throughout the studies.

There are other side effects you may experience. They include dry mouth, swelling of the hands and feet blurred vision, weight gain, trouble concentrating, and feeling “high.” In clinical trials, these side effects were generally mild to moderate. If you experience any of these side effects, keep taking LYRICA every day as prescribed. However, it's important to tell your doctor because there may be things he or she can do to help.

LYRICA may also cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Some signs are swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat, or neck, or if you have any trouble breathing, or have a rash, hives, or blisters.

If you stop taking LYRICA suddenly, you may have headaches, nausea, diarrhea, or trouble sleeping. If you have epilepsy and you stop taking LYRICA suddenly, you may have seizures more often. If you and your doctor do decide you need to stop taking LYRICA, he or she will help you stop gradually.

Please see additional important safety information below.
No. LYRICA is not an antidepressant. You can still take LYRICA if you are already taking an antidepressant. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking.
No. LYRICA is not a narcotic. But if you have had a drug or alcohol problem, you may be more likely to misuse LYRICA.
LYRICA is a prescription medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is used in adults to treat fibromyalgia (chronic pain all over your body). It is also used to treat pain from damaged nerves of the feet and hands that is caused by diabetes (diabetic nerve pain or neuropathy), or the pain following the healing of shingles. In addition, it is used together with other seizure medicines to treat partial onset seizures in adults.
LYRICA has a low potential for interaction with other medicines you may be taking. But it's important to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

LYRICA and a few other drugs may interact with each other, causing side effects:
  • You may have a higher chance for swelling and hives if you take angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with LYRICA
  • You may have a higher chance of weight gain or swelling of your hands or feet if you take certain diabetes medicines with LYRICA
  • You may have a higher chance for dizziness and sleepiness if you take LYRICA with alcohol, narcotic pain medicines, or medicines for anxiety
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine. Do not start a new medicine without talking with your doctor.
Your doctor will tell you how much LYRICA you need and when to take it.
  • Take LYRICA every day as prescribed by your doctor. Take LYRICA at the same times each day
  • LYRICA may be taken with or without food
  • Do not stop taking LYRICA without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking LYRICA suddenly, you may have headaches, nausea, diarrhea, or trouble sleeping. If you have epilepsy and stop taking LYRICA suddenly, you may have seizures more often. If you and your doctor do decide you need to stop taking LYRICA, he or she will help you stop gradually.
LYRICA may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Some signs are swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck or if you have any trouble breathing, or have a rash, hives or blisters.

LYRICA is available in multiple strengths. Your doctor can adjust your dose to help you get the most from treatment. So it’s important to discuss your progress and any side effects you may feel with your doctor, especially in the first few weeks. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor.
Your doctor will decide what dose is appropriate for you. Everyone is unique and may respond to LYRICA differently. LYRICA is available in multiple strengths. Your doctor can adjust your dose to help you get the most from treatment. So it’s important to discuss your progress and any side effects you may feel with your doctor, especially in the first few weeks.

The approved doses for the different indications of LYRICA are as follows:

  Number of times
per day to take LYRICA 		Recommended total
starting dosage 		Recommended total
ongoing dosage

Fibromyalgia

 2 150 mg/day 300 mg/day to
450 mg/day

Diabetic nerve pain

 3 100 mg/day 300 mg/day

Pain after shingles

 2 or 3
(depending on the dose) 		150 mg/day 150 mg/day to
600 mg/day*

Partial onset
seizures in adults

 2 or 3
(depending on the dose) 		150 mg/day 150 mg/day to
600 mg/day

Your doctor may make adjustments according to your unique needs. If you have problems with kidney function, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of LYRICA.

*Patients who do not experience sufficient pain relief following 2 to 4 weeks of treatment with 300 mg/day, and who are able to tolerate LYRICA, may be treated with up to 600 mg/day.
If you miss a dose by a few hours, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Just take LYRICA at your next regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. If you take too much LYRICA, call your doctor or poison control center, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Over 7 million people have been prescribed LYRICA in the United States since its approval in 2005. LYRICA is not appropriate for everyone.
It’s important to give your doctor your full medical history. This will make sure you have the best possible experience with LYRICA. Before taking LYRICA, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
  • Have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
  • Have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis
  • Have heart problems, including heart failure
  • Have a bleeding problem or a low blood platelet count
  • Have abused prescription medicines, street drugs, or alcohol in the past
  • Have ever had swelling of your face, mouth, tongue, lips, gums, neck, or throat (angioedema)
  • Plan to father a child
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking LYRICA, talk to your doctor about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. Even if you do not have epilepsy, it is still important to participate. Your input may help women with epilepsy who are also having children
  • Are breastfeeding
The US government regulates the manufacture, possession, and use of certain drugs and chemicals. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) maintains 5 schedules (or lists) of these controlled substances. The higher the schedule number, the lower the potential there is for abuse. For instance, LYRICA is a Schedule V medicine. This means it has a lower potential for abuse than a pain medicine such as oxycodone, which is a narcotic that falls under Schedule II.
No. There is no generic version of LYRICA.
If you stop taking LYRICA suddenly, you may have headaches, nausea, diarrhea or trouble sleeping. If you have epilepsy and you stop taking LYRICA suddenly, you may have seizures more often. If you and your doctor do decide you need to stop taking LYRICA, he or she will help you stop gradually.

LYRICA is indicated to treat fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, and pain after shingles. LYRICA is also indicated to treat partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy who take 1 or more drugs for seizures.

Important Safety Information

LYRICA is not for everyone. LYRICA may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Some signs are swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck or if you have any trouble breathing, or have a rash, hives or blisters.

Drugs used to treat seizures increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. LYRICA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, do not stop LYRICA without first talking to your doctor.

LYRICA may cause swelling of your hands, legs and feet, which can be serious for people with heart problems. LYRICA may cause dizziness and sleepiness. You should not drive or work with machines until you know how LYRICA affects you. Also, tell your doctor right away about muscle pain or problems along with feeling sick and feverish, or any changes in your eyesight including blurry vision or if you have any kidney problems or get dialysis.

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.

You may have a higher chance for swelling and hives if you are also taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors so tell your doctor if you are taking these medications. You may have a higher chance of swelling of your hands or feet or gaining weight if you are also taking certain diabetes medicines. Do not drink alcohol while on LYRICA. You may have a higher chance for dizziness and sleepiness if you take LYRICA with alcohol, narcotic pain medicines, or medicines for anxiety.

Before you start LYRICA, tell your doctor if you are planning to father a child, or if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you have had a drug or alcohol problem, you may be more likely to misuse LYRICA.

In studies, a specific type of blood vessel tumor was seen in mice, but not in rats. The meaning of these findings in humans is not known.

Do not stop taking LYRICA without talking to your doctor. If you stop suddenly you may have headaches, nausea, diarrhea or trouble sleeping and if you have epilepsy, you may have seizures more often.

View the Medication Guide

View the Full Prescribing Information
The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
Copyright © 2011 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. PBP01545/285966-01
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