Pregabalin and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• tit...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 1, 2018

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "Lyrica has changed my life. I have worked in retail most of my life, and it entailed a lot of heavy lifting. As I got older, I started to get pain all over my body, my hands, legs, and back. Doctors gave me every drug you can think of, including narcotics, nothing was helping, and I was also getting very depressed. Finally, I saw a specialist and was prescribed Lyrica. Not only did it help me with the pain, but it also helped with the depression. I did gain 30 lbs, but I will take Lyrica over having pain and depression."

• zoo...
• March 13, 2008

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I take 75 mg x 2 per day. It seemed to help the first couple of days, now nothing. I have gained 12+ lbs, too. My appetite is getting out of control. I'm going to talk to my doctor about trying something else. Anyone else having problems with weight gain like me? I still need to take an OTC pain medicine with my Lyrica. Anybody ever try muscle relaxers?"

• JFr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2018

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I have suffered with fibromyalgia for over twenty years, and when Lyrica was recommended for use by FM patients, my life changed drastically. Actually, the first time I tried it, the dosage at 75mg/day wasn't nearly enough to tell any difference. Then my doctor bumped it to 75mgX3/day, and that did it. I got off the couch but ate everything in sight. I decided I would rather have a few extra pounds and have a life than not take Lyrica. Last year, my new doctor switched my Rx to 150mgX2/day, and I'm feeling even better! I have taken the weight off because I'm so much more active now. Seriously, if Lyrica wasn't available in the US, I'd move to where it was!"

• Pen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2013

For Pain "Just started Lyrica for extreme pain in my thoracic spine after a workplace injury causing a muscular ligamentous tear of my medial scapula. I tried every sort of pain medication available with absolutely no relief. My Dr. prescribed Lyrica for me a few days ago and about 4 hours after the first dose I noticed a change in my level of pain. Had massive side effects though such as vertigo, dizziness, light-headed, blurred vision, etc. I did have a fever though from an unrelated condition so I'm not sure whether it is related to the Lyrica. I have continued taking this medication with the hope that the side effects ease and the pain remains minimal. I'm worried about weight gain that others are talking about. I've just lost 25kg, don't want it back."

• Jay...
• June 20, 2015

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Lyrica works. Unfortunately, I am on the verge of discontinuing use because of significant side effects. The most troubling for me are the eye disorders (conjunctivitis and blurred vision), and the dementia. I am 53 years old and I have trouble remembering elementary words! It's very embarrassing. I also have a significant taste disorder... many things taste like 'burnt garlic' to me... that's the best way I can describe it. Finally, I have facial bloating, weight gain, and dizziness. I have been on the maximum dose of Lyrica for chronic pain due to degenerative disc disease in my neck. I was willing to endure the weight and dizziness, but the eye, memory and taste problems are intolerable. Too bad, because Lyrica really helps pain."

• Gra...
• April 2, 2019

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "The positives outweigh the negatives for Lyrica for my fibromyalgia, it is taking care of my pain so well. The side effects I've experienced are weight gain, blurred vision, swelling of my ankles and feet. Also, less output than the amount of input regarding my urine. I'm hoping that will adjust because Lyrica is controlling my pain, so I will tolerate the side effects anytime, anywhere, all the time. I take 150 mg a.m. and 150 mg p.m. I was taking Norco. No more, yeah!!!!"

• Nan...
• March 28, 2016

Pregabalin for Neuralgia "It cured my pain (trigeminal neuralgia), but I had nasty side effects at first: mild headaches, nausea, tiredness, feeling too full and bloated (even when not eating), weight gain, dizziness, etc. I stuck with it, and after two weeks, I was still feeling bloated and had headaches, and I continued to gain weight. I researched ways to counteract the negative effects and started taking a B6 supplement (for weight gain) and an herbal diuretic (for the bloat). I no longer feel bloated, and the headaches are gone. I'm on my 4th (or 5th?) week of Lyrica, and I am feeling much better. I don't think I'm still gaining weight, but it's too soon to tell. I wasn't eating any more or less than usual, so if the B6 helps, that would be nice."

• Cyc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2016

Pregabalin for Postherpetic Neuralgia "I had shingles in January 2014. I have had terrible PHN ever since. 2.5 years of pain. It has been awful! Shingles is the worst pain I have ever experienced, and it isn't going away. I tried everything out there from Gabapentin to acupuncture, to Percocet, to injections in my back, and nothing helped, or it would help for a few weeks, but the pain always managed to come back strong. I was wary of Lyrica because of the side effects, but I finally decided to try it. It has definitely helped me, and I can do things like ride my bike again with little pain. However, I have put on 8 lbs in 6 months, and I am an extremely active person, so this is tough for me. I also have pain in my joints, and sometimes my hands go numb, but less pain."

• Bab...
• March 18, 2013

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "Miracle product for fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, I picked up some weight but: Do you want to be thin or have chronic pain/be immobile? Cannot do without it. My muscles 'freeze' and I have spasms if I don't take it."

• pai...
• March 19, 2008

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I have been taking 75mg twice per day now for 10 days. I have severe back pain from an injury. I did not think that such a small pill twice a day could help. I was ready to stop using it after three days because of the side effects of feeling totally 'out of it'. I had mood swings, dizziness, and confusion. Those side effects have now eased up, and my pain has become less severe. I have had weight gain and wonder if it causes water retention. I feel bloated. Hope this helps."

• Lib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2020

For Pain "I’ve been taking Lyrica for sciatica - it’s made me gain fat around my belly rapidly, makes me twitch; and another weird side effect is it affects my speech mid-sentence sometimes - it’s like a sudden uncontrollable loud drawn-out ‘ahhh’ - and it’s weird. Has anyone else had this? It’s difficult to describe - like a twitch of the vocal cords. Anyway, I ideally want to get off this stuff - it works really well for pain after a buildup for about 4-6 weeks at 600 mg per day, but the side effects are not great. I’m a U.K. NHS patient and pay £9 per prescription, so ignore the insurance answers."

• Nad...
• January 31, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed Lyrica 2p/day for pain. I have autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. I almost immediately noticed a complete change in my mood, which was anxious, severely depressed, and at times suicidal. In time, I figured out it was the Lyrica. Even though I still had pain in problematic joints, I felt alive, relaxed, and hopeful for the first time in what felt like years! My relationship with my husband and my baby (with whom I have had terrible difficulties bonding/guilt/PND) has improved. I've started having fun with her, I have finally somehow managed to stop fretting about what I think went wrong or I could've done better, and started to enjoy now. The only problem I have with this, and the reason my Rheumatologist won't give more, is WEIGHT GAIN."

• sby...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 19, 2025

For Back Pain "I was diagnosed with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Pregabalin, on its own, is not sufficient enough for my pain; however, Pregabalin paired with my prescribed opioid gives me better pain relief than Pregabalin or Nucynta alone. The biggest con of Pregabalin is weight gain. If you are going to be on Pregabalin, and you do not want to gain weight, you have to pay close attention to the foods/beverages you are consuming. Interestingly enough, Pregabalin works better for Generalized Anxiety Disorder than benzodiazepines ever did. With benzos, I grew a tolerance to them, and at times I wasn't sure if my benzo was working. I'm very grateful for this drug; however, insurance doesn't want to cover it, you can gain a lot of weight on Pregabalin, and it's, sadly, not as effective as Tramadol or Nucynta. However, if you grew a tolerance to your opioid, ask your pain management doctor about trialing Pregabalin; you might be surprised at how much it helps."

• lau...
• August 24, 2016

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I will start off by saying it did cause weight gain. My clothes fit the same, but the number on the scale went up about 7-10 pounds depending on the day. I cannot say this is solely because of the drug, I think I can safely say that this is because my pain has improved so drastically that I have an appetite again. I can keep the weight off if I really want to, but I am not overweight, and I am content with my appetite finally being back after years of struggles that I don't think it's a problem. Regardless, I have been on Lyrica for almost a year now. It has drastically improved my nerve pain, joint stiffness, and swelling (along with a gallon of water a day), appetite, energy, and sleep. I am not pain-free, but no fibromyalgia patient truly ever is pain-free, my pain has gone from an average of 8-9 down to a 4-5 on my good days. My flare-ups are far less frequent, and I only experience them once every two or so months, which is a huge improvement over every other week. The length of the flare-ups is also shortened from 3-5 days down to 2 days maximum. At the beginning of taking the medicine, I was slightly drowsy, but nothing dangerous. I only take it once a day, and I am trying to keep it that way to avoid moving up to 2 doses a day. Lyrica is my miracle drug and has definitely given me my life back. My biggest complaint is the cost and insurance, but it could be worse. It costs me $2 a day to feel normal again."

• Anonymous
• September 13, 2010

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I have been using Lyrica for about 2 months now. I originally quit it because I gained 7 pounds in a week. Stopped taking it. Could not stand the pain in my feet, outer thighs, and now along my beltline. I noticed that the weight gain seemed to be from an increased appetite. I have been able to keep the weight off by being very mindful of my hunger or mindless eating. I am 5'10'' and weigh 185 lbs. Without Lyrica, I don't really get hungry. Mind is bigger than the belly when I order food. With Lyrica, I find I could eat a horse, a cow, and maybe a squirrel as an after-dinner snack... LOL. It makes me lose whatever normal appetite suppressant that I may have. It does wonders for my nerve pain that started 6 months ago and seems to get worse without Lyrica."

• KMo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Y'all, like so many others have said, this is a lifesaver! It got me off my addiction to benzos. I had the 'euphoric' feeling after a couple of days, which unfortunately went away, but I'm still happy all the time. I'm no longer having extreme emotions. I thought something was wrong because I've never felt this way! It's been 4 months, and I take 100 mg 3x a day. I may have had side effects in the beginning, but they've gone away. I have, however, gained 30 pounds in 4 months. That is NOT normal. So it's come to the point that I'm gaining weight too rapidly to control, and I must stop the meds. I'm very sad about this, except I'm not, because the Lyrica will not allow me to be sad. So yeah. EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN. But amazing drug."

• Gyp...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2017

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I have spinal stenosis, my spine is cracked on both sides of my spine, as well as a bulging disc pushing on the cracks, fibromyalgia, and some form of arthritis. Lyrica packed on the pounds, blurred vision, constantly tired, my body aches more when I take Lyrica. I use cannabis oil CBD form, it helps with inflammation, it sure helps considerably better with no side effects! The CBD form does NOT get you ‘stoned, high, or buzzed’, it removes the pain. I am extremely grateful for my cannabis oil, the effects last longer than Lyrica too! I can enjoy my grandkids again!"

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2016

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I have had neuropathy for some time and tried a host of other medications before trying Lyrica. I was on it for slightly over 3 months, with my dosage starting at 75 mg twice a day to 300 twice a day. Initially, the pain was approximately 7-8, and the Lyrica got it to about a 5 routinely, with some days worse. However, I suffered from some of the side effects stated by its manufacturer, including dizziness, being off-balance at times, problems with sleep and concentration, and weight gain (approximately 20 pounds over 3 months) and its resulting effect on increasing my A1c. The worst part was an increase in anger. After no subsiding of the side effects, my doctor suggested I cease using it. We are looking for alternatives."

• Luc...
• August 18, 2013

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I was prescribed Lyrica for fibromyalgia. The first hour after I took Lyrica, I felt better, and at night, I slept like a dream. I was on it for a total of two weeks, in which time I started feeling bloated and put on weight. I am a heart patient, and I started getting angina. My blood pressure started to rise. I started getting headaches. My only wish was that I could have continued taking Lyrica, as the fibromyalgia pain was gone. But I'll just have to keep looking."

• Gen...
• May 23, 2013

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I have been on Lyrica for only a few months for neuropathy pain. I also have lupus, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gastrointestinal issues. Lyrica worked excellently the first few weeks for the neuropathic pain. After a while, I noticed I started to have more lupus flares and joint irritations. It is causing me to gain weight, which is a plus because my other medicines were causing me to lose weight. I have tried a lot of medication, including gabapentin (3600 mg daily), and Lyrica worked best overall."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 5, 2014

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I found this to be very effective in treating the aftereffects of double fusion of cervical vertebrae. Then I found I was having less difficulty with fibromyalgia. I was on 3 a day and the only side effect was weight gain."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2016

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I recently stopped taking Lyrica after 6 months. I was taking Lyrica for nerve pain following a terrible car accident. I wish I had never started taking Lyrica. It not only did not help with the pain but only made my condition worse, not to mention the 30 pounds of weight I put on. Also, the horrible withdrawals were worse than I ever could have imagined. I absolutely do not recommend ever starting Lyrica."

• Ric...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 2, 2022

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Terrible, this med. Caused 20 different things to me, including shaking hands, impotence, bad balance, forgetfulness, memory loss, dizziness, weight gain, bad eyesight, among other things. When I was trying to get off of it, I had real bad anxiety. As far as I’m concerned, it is poison. I was on it for 8 months but didn’t realize that it was causing all of these problems until I got off of it, and all of the problems went away. I actually thought that I was getting to the end of my life."

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on and off pregabalin unhappily for years now. I can't get a doctor to understand how good they seem for me, except for two things: constipation and overeating. Therefore, weight gain. But they are things that can be sorted. I ended up here to read more about them, as my doctor never wants to prescribe them to me."

• Kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2017

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I have been on Lyrica almost 2 1/2 years. When I first started it, I was really skinny, so weight gain didn't bother me, but now I have gained over 25 lbs, which is not good at all. I am going to go back to Gabapentin, which helped me get off morphine. My eyes are dry and blurry. I fart all the time, and I am fat! I was off of it the beginning of the year, and I was hurting, but side effects are too much."