Lyrica pills – treatment for neuropathic pain

A highly effective pain reliever is the medicine Lyrica offered by the well-known manufacturer PFIZER. Its main active ingredient is pregabalin. You can buy Lyrica in pharmacies only with a prescription.

The drug is available in hard gelatin capsules of 75, 150 and 300 mg. Their lid is labeled Pfizer. There may be 14 or 56 tablets in a pack, sealed in blister packs.

Drug features

If you take Lyrica tablets on an empty stomach, the active substance is absorbed very quickly in the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the bioavailability rate is more than 90%. One hour after taking the drug, the maximum concentration of the substance in the blood is fixed. Food intake slows down absorption of pregabalin, so Cmax is reached after about 2.5 hours.

Analgesic effect is provided by the fact that the active substance is able to reduce the number of electrical signals that come from the damaged nerve endings to the brain. Thus, the drug relieves pain and alleviates the condition of the patient.

When taking the drug for a long time, physical and mental dependence on it is noted. There is a need for euphoria and pleasant relaxation, regardless of whether there is a need to relieve neuroleptic pain. This is very dangerous, because later you will have to get rid of the addiction in order to avoid dangerous consequences for the body.

Indications

Lyrica tablets, the instruction emphasizes this, are indicated in the treatment of epilepsy. The drug is used as a complementary therapy. It is shown to treat a special form of the pathology.

Also capsules lyrica, the instructions confirm this, are used to relieve neuropathic pain. Its cause can be a variety of pathologies. Pain of this type is always associated with sleep disorders, increased fatigue, which significantly worsens the quality of life.

The effectiveness of the drug is confirmed in practice in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. This condition is characterized by internal anxiety that cannot be controlled. It is popularly known as “on the edge”. Against the background of this pathology, rapid fatigue, muscle tension and insomnia develop.

Contraindications and side effects

The main contraindication is individual intolerance to the main active ingredient and other components within the drug. Do not prescribe the drug under the age of 17 years, as well as during pregnancy and lactation.

Taking lyrica tablets what is it, you should know that the remedy can cause many adverse reactions of the body. All possible adverse reactions are listed in the manufacturer’s instructions. Before starting to take the drug, it is necessary to consult with the attending doctor.

The most common adverse reactions are

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Visual disturbances

Because of the possibility of such manifestations, there are restrictions on driving during treatment with the drug. Caution should also be exercised when performing various high-precision work operations and operating complex technical devices.

There are confirmations about the development of cardiac and renal failure when treating elderly patients with the drug. Therefore, the attending physician should be informed about the presence of cardiovascular abnormalities, if they are diagnosed.

If in the course of treatment there were difficulties with urination, the drug should be discontinued.

Rare cases of mental disorders have been recorded when Lyrica drug was used in the complex therapy of epilepsy. Patients have had suicidal thoughts and the desire to harm themselves in any way. The cases of such negative manifestations should always be reported to the doctor.

Negative reactions of the body may occur when taking Lyrica tablets simultaneously with other drugs. As a rule, those side effects that are specified in the instructions of other drugs are intensified.

Very dangerous is an overdose of the drug. It causes confusion and anxiety, and in severe cases, coma. If an overdose is confirmed, supportive symptomatic treatment in hospital and, if necessary, hemodialysis will be required.

Dosage rules

The dosage of the drug for the treatment of certain pathologies or to relieve pain is prescribed by the doctor on an individual basis.

The permitted daily dose is -150 to 600 mg. Tablets are taken in 2 or 3 doses at the same time of the day. Capsules should be swallowed with enough water. If necessary, the dosage can be adjusted by the doctor depending on the results of treatment.

If, for any reason, the tablet was not taken at the right time, it is allowed to do so in the next 3-4 hours. If more time has passed, you just need to take the next dose. As a rule, intense neuropathic pain can be relieved after about three days.

It is important to properly withdraw from the drug after deciding to end the treatment. The dosage should be reduced gradually over at least 7 days. This will minimize stress to the body and avoid negative side effects, particularly nervousness, anxiety, and depression. With abrupt withdrawal from the drug, cramps, nausea, and headaches often occur.

The drug should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C in a place where children do not have access. It is strictly forbidden to take an expired drug. Its expiration date is always stated on the package.