Fibromyalgia, Lyrica, Warnings...
Lyrica (pregabalin) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
The common consensus is that if its approved by the FDA, it's a category stopper for fibromyalgic problems. That's not always the case and we'd like to first discuss what fibromyalgia is and how Lyrica may or may not help.
Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. It is not contagious, and recent studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed. It affects more females than males, with a ratio of 9:1 by ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria.
Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population, and is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50. The nature of fibromyalgia is not well understood; some physicians believe that it may be psychosomatic.
Other symptoms often attributed to fibromyalgia (possibly due to another comorbid disorder) are chronic paresthesia, physical fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, genitourinary symptoms (such as those associated with the chronic bladder condition interstitial cystitis), dermatological disorders, headaches, myoclonic twitches, and symptomatic hypoglycemia. Although it is common in people with fibromyalgia for pain to be widespread, it may also be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, hips, or other areas. Many sufferers also experience varying degrees of temporomandibular joint disorder. Not all patients have all symptoms.
Is it for you? Exactly how Lyrica works is unknown. Fibromyalgia symptoms have been linked to changes in the brain that influence how people feel pain. Fibromyalgia patients experience a heightened sensitivity to stimuli that are not normally painful to others. Some data suggests Lyrica binds to a protein in nerve cells that is responsible for the heightened sensitivity.
Is it effective? The effectiveness of Lyrica for treating fibromyalgia was established by two clinical trials involving 1,800 people. That's right, 1,800 individuals. Let's quantify this a little further... Fibromyalgia is seen in about 3-6% percent of the U.S. population (gross estimate: 303, 482, 168 at time of post), at 6% we arrive at about 18,208, 930 fibromylagia sufferers. Of those 18 million sufferers of Fibromyalgia, the Lyrica study was done on .009%. Not even 1%.
When those patients stopped taking Lyrica, fibromyalgia symptoms worsened.
Common side-effects:
According to Pfizer, common side effects reported in patients taking Lyrica included:
- dizziness
- sleepiness/drowsiness
- dry mouth
- edema
- blurred vision
- weight gain
- swelling of hands and feet
- constipation
- exaggerated feeling of happiness or wellness
- balance disorder
- increased appetite
- difficulty with concentration/attention
- may interact with other medications
- may cause rare but potential serious allergic reactions such as angioedema and hypersensitivity
Be sure to discuss this benefits versus the risks with your doctor.
In closing, we're not sure how U.S. doctors can make a concerted, professional recommendation with such little research and surmounting side-effects.
Unfortunately, this is all too common with FDA and Big pharmaceutical prescription drug campaigns. Your tool is your brain. Be smart, use common sense, and don't assume all is well if its approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
