Type of medicine Antiepileptic
Used for Treatment of epilepsy
Nerve pain
Anxiety
Also called Lyrica
Available as Capsules

Lyrica works in the brain and the nerves to help control certain types of epilepsy and relieve nerve pain. It can also help to relieve anxiety.

Why is this drug prescribed?

Lyrica capsules contain the active ingredient pregabalin, which is a drug that is mainly used to treat epilepsy. It works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain. The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals are released in the brain, the brain becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This can result in seizures or fits. Pregabalin prevents epileptic fits by preventing the excessive electrical activity in the brain. It does this by mimicking the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that are stored in nerve cells. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance. Pregabalin is structurally similar to GABA and so is thought to mimick its action. This helps calm the nerve activity in the brain. Pregabalin is used as an add-on treatment for adults whose epilepsy has not been well controlled by other anti-epileptic drugs. It is used to prevent partial seizures, and partial seizures that spread to secondary generalised seizures. As pregabalin stabilises electrical nerve activity, it can also be used to treat pain that occurs a result of damage to or a disturbance in the function of nerves. It can be used for peripheral neuropathic pain, ie nerve pain in the hands, legs or feet, or central neuropathic pain, eg as a result of a spinal cord injury. Pregabalin can also used to treat generalised anxiety disorder.

Treatments

* Epilepsy - used as an add-on therapy for adults with partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation * Nerve pain in adults, for example due to diabetic neuropathy, following shingles or due to spinal cord injury * Generalised anxiety disorder in adults.

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Dizziness * Sleepiness, fatigue * Increased appetite and weight gain * Confusion * Mood changes such as elevated or depressed mood, irritability * Memory impairment * Attention disturbance * Sexual problems such as decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, inability to orgasm * Changes in sensation such as pins and needles or numbness * Shaky movements and unsteady walk * Tremor, abnormal coordination * Visual disturbances such as blurred vision, double vision, difficulty seeing fine detail * Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling * Disturbances of the gut such as constipation, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal swelling, acid reflux, increased salivation * Dry mouth, nose or eyes * Restlessness * Abnormal dreams, hallucinations * Increased heart rate * Hot flushes, sweating * Shortness of breath