Lyrica Dangers
Lyrica is a brand name for the prescription medication pregbalin. Doctors commonly prescribe the drug for the treatment of epilepsy as well as to alleviate the discomfort caused by diabetes, fibromyalgia and shingles. Pregbalin works by interfering with nerves in your body that contribute to seizures and the sensation of pain. Despite its effectiveness, Lyrica poses a risk for side effects in some patients.
Hypersensitivity
Lyrica poses a risk for serious allergic reactions in some patients, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. One possible effect is angioedema, which causes symptoms like swelling of your face, tongue, lips, gums and throat. The condition requires emergency medical attention and is most likely in patients also taking ACE inhibitor blood pressure medications like enalapril. Other allergic reactions may occur from Lyrica, resulting in hives, shortness of breath and wheezing.
Suicide
Lyrica has the potential to cause suicidal thoughts or self-harmful behaviors during the first 24 weeks of treatment, cautions the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Signs of depression or psychiatric side effects from the drug include agitation and irritability as well as sadness, explains the Mayo Clinic.
Edema
Approximately 6 percent of patients who take Lyrica develop edema or the accumulation of fluid under the skin in the arms, abdomen or legs, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Taking anti-diabetic medications like rosiglitazone, troglitazone and pioglitazone with Lyrica increases your risk of developing edema.
Neurological
Around 31 percent of patients who take Lyrica develop dizziness, while 22 percent experience drowsiness, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Because of its potential to cause these symptoms, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how Lyrica affects you, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of patients who take Lyrica experience a gradual decline in the symptoms of dizziness and drowsiness associated with the drug.
Ophthalmic
Approximately 7 percent of patients treated with Lyrica experience blurred vision, and around 1 percent of users discontinue use of the drug because of visual side effects, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other less common side effects of the drug upon the eyes include dryness, increased sensitivity to light and swelling of the lining around your eyelid and eyeball. Lyrica uses rarely result in decreased night vision, the formation of ulcers on the cornea or blindness.
Thrombocytopenia
As many as 3 percent of patients who take Lyrica develop thrombocytopenia, a condition marked by a decrease in blood platelets, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Thrombocytopenia may cause symptoms like easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums or a rash composed of tiny red dots that resemble pin-pricks.
Tags: Library Medicine, National Library, National Library Medicine, percent patients, patients take, patients take Lyrica, percent patients take