What Causes Weight Gain In Lyrica

I HAVE GAINED 27 POUNDS IN 3 MONTHS. WHAT CAN I DO OTHER THAN STOP TAKING LYRICA? SHOULD I QUIT OR LOWER THE DOSAGE? I TAKE 2 DOSES PER DAY.

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REPORT

It's difficult to say exactly what about a medication causes any specific side effect, in many cases there is really no way to explain it, but Lyrica contains the active ingredient Pregabalin, which is actually an anticonvulsant, so it works on brain chemicals.

This means that it may be having an affect on something that stimulates the appetite, or slows the metabolism, so some people gain weight easier than normal, while taking it.

Have you discussed the issue with your doctor?

You may need to start more closely watching what you eat, or up the amount of exercise you get each day.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Lyrica/­

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I can relate to the weight gain with Lyrica. When I first tried it a few years ago, I gained 8lbs almost instantly. I know it is because it slows down your metabolism. I went off of it but went back on it in 2009. Here is the solution--take it along with a low dose of generic Wellbutrin--100mg two times a day. Wellbutrin is a NDRI (or antidepressant). 100mg two times a day is below the therapeutic range really to treat depression, but it counteracts the Lyrica side effects!! The drug is stimulating so it keeps your metabolism normal. You will not gain weight. I have not gained one pound in 2 yrs! I eat like a pig at times too. I think it is a miracle drug because it enables me to stay on the drug that I need for pain control.

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would cymbalta work like the wellbrutin? it has a appettite depressant.Cannot take the wellbruitn had bad reaction..

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I started Lyrica and instantly gained 5lbs and I went off after reading posts about weight gain. I felt better than I have since I got sick on Lyrica and now I'm back not functioning. Thank you so much for this advice as to how to counteract the weight gain. I hope my Rheumy will prescribe it for me now!

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I'm on Lyrica for spinal damage.If I take my Zoloft as directed, will it stop the weight gain?

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Your post gives me hope :) I take 300mg Effexor and 75mg 2x's daily Lyrica as a starting trial dose for spinal pain and Cauda Equina including nerve damage in my sacrum and legs. So I need this desperately and I just lost 30lbs, thank you to Topiramate and was very upset when I saw that a side effect to Lyrica was weight gain.

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I gained 40 pounds over two years of taking Lyrica. When I finally was able to get off the lyrica (a withdrawal horror story by the way) I thought the weight would come right off. I've always been able to lose weight when I needed to, so I wasn't concerned. I was totally wrong, that weight was glued on. After several months I went on Wellbutrin, and after a month of around 800 calories a day, have finally seen the weight start to come off. What a nightmare this drug is! My advice is to stay far, far away.

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I can totally agree I was injured in a M V A 7 yrs ago and was fine with the pain mangent for a while once prescribed the lyrics due to extensive nerve damage and burning pain through my leg I became drowsy. Now 9 months later I am up 50 lbs. I work out I diet it's stagnant and embarrassing I've never been overweight always fit. It's bad enough I have to deal with pain and the depression of what's happened to me and my life and now Im depressed over my appearance and as the sizes of clothes just keeps going up. I appreciate any and all advice of what to do. I can't live like this. I fell like Im living in someone else's body it doesn't feel like mine or look like mine. Please help!!!

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I've been on the "Lyrica is poison" bandwagon for a year at least. I wish I could give you the secret. Losing this weight has been crazy hard. I've been dieting (1500 cal a day at most, no fat) and running when I feel up to it (sometimes 4-5 days a week, sometimes 1-2) for seven weeks now and I've lost maybe 10 pounds. You may get lucky going off the drug and have no withdrawal symptoms, but they can be rough. If you go on the website Neurotalk I wrote a thread called "lyrica withdrawal syndrome" that tells all the stuff I used to help get off of it. Good luck...there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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I was prescribed this drug in 2011. Took it for 1 week and gained 5 lbs, plus making me depressed. Stopped taking for 2 years. Was in so much pain, I decided to try once more..I have gained 3 lbs in 2 days and have not changed eating habits, actually have eaten less because of knowing what the drug can do... I am so frustrated because it helps with the fibromyalgia pain but creates another problem with weight gain.. I am tall and for some reason at this stage of my life am struggling with weight gain because of hormones anyway. It is a vicious cycle and I don't know what to do except get off the drug again.. Stopped today!

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I too have always been fit and never had a problem with weight until taking Lyrica. Unfortunately, it is the only thing that helps my nerve pain. My dosage was increased 5 months ago and I have gained 45 lbs- in 4-5 months!!! I can't even fit into my old maternity clothes. I tried stopping it, but no luck with the weight. It's strange because it is almost all in the belly, I seriously look pregnant. For me, I haven't noticed it increasing my appetite, I don't eat that much. I think it has a lot to do with altering metabolism. I am 35 yrs old, female, 5'10 and went from 145 to 185-190..I have 3 kids, my youngest is 3. I was always told that I had a high metabolism. Not anymore, just this past several months. It wouldn't be so bad if the weight didn't interfere with how I move and function, but the added weight is causing quite a bit of strain on my joints and because of that, I'm not nearly as active as usual. It's a lose-lose situation on this drug. I feel like I'm just going to explode, this weight gain has been so rapid.

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Yuck...this is my story completely. I could have written it!!

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I have been taking Lyrica for 9 days and have gained 10 lbs. I feel terrible and am embarrassed and frustrated by yet another battle I'll have to fight. It has helped the pain a bit, but is definitely not worth the weight gain. Ugh... back to the drawing board.

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I have been taking this medication [lyrica] for severe neuropathy in my legs and feet. I have gained 50 pounds over a period of 7 years. It is really frustration. I an visiting my neurologist and endocrinologist I am asking them about a product called R-Alpha Lipoic Acid. I am very scared to stop taking lyrica because the pain is so so severe that I can't even walk. I take 200mg 3-4 times a day. It's very bad when I even miss a dose, and can tell when it's getting close to taking a dose. And taking lyrica at this dose does not even completely stop the pain & Numbness, just makes it tollerable. :(

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Hi beck,i take 75mg of lyrica 2 x a day and have gained 30 lbs since march.

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Hello everyone. I just finish reading all the issues that people have been having with weight gain from this med. I just receive samples of 50mg I guess a low dose, now reading all what it does for your weight I'm not sure even if I want to start taking it.Tired of pain more at night and can't sleep because of neuropathy, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel and other issues. So I'm kind lost on which way to go. A couple years ago I took cymbalta did fine didn't notice if it made me gain weight or not at that time I was to depress to notice. So any suggestion out there? Should I be concern about the horrible weight gain. Too scared to try. I to struggle with my weight especially going through menopause on top of that.

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Hi i read your post i was in a mva nearly 2years ago and had to have acdf of my c6 /c7 and about a year after the surgery and being on oxycontin and panadeine forte for the last year the nerve pain became to much. I have had 5 children one has left home but the youngest is 6 and he has global development delay and is still in nappies and has a sippy cup. But before taking lyrica i had a thin body size 8 in australia. But now i look pregnant the weight is only on my stomach hips and bottom. The added weight is hurting my hips my knees etc and i feel worse. I sont know what to do either:(

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I forgot to say im on 150mg of lyrica 2 times a day and have menopause but hadnt put any weight on with that. It happened within a week of starting it. I also have major depression, so me not being able to fit in my clothes anymore and a scar across my throat and feeling fat doesnt exactly help me wanting to be here anymore, and if i go off it im in alot of pain. As i am still in pain while im on it. Someone help please

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I had the same problem. I would not be taking it. I was one of the first recipient of Lyrica back in 2007. Too many side effects. There was a case suit brought by the FDA in the states and they won. The problem with this drug is that all the clinical trials were done on epilepsy, what the drug was marketed and approved for. Unfortunately they because of the effects on the brain they then marketed for fibro myalgia without the extensive study on what happens when mixed with other drugs. Can cause weight gain, permanent memory loss, total change of thoughts and behavior, suicidal thoughts. ....the list goes on. This drug has fatally changed my life forever. Please get help in finding an alternative drug. They are out there.

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@ Lorraine,

Wellbutrin has a stimulating effect on the CNS. It does not 'normalize' the metabolism. It simply stimulates your CNS thereby suppressing your appetite. You might as well say to someone that they should take adderall to counteract their Lyrica.

#1 - stimulants are known to further damage CNS/nerves which caused the NEED for Lyrica in the first place

#2 - they do not know why Lyrica increases appetite yet so please do not speak for the pharma community and PLEASE do not give medical advice at all.

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Re: Kpax (# 8)

I know this is hard but try taking Lyrica only 15 days then stop for 15 days I don't gain weight and the Lyrica works great those 15 days but the days I don't take it I'm depressed good luck

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Re: God Bless The USA (# 6)

Watch out with Topiramate! Thats how my chronic kidney stones started and ill always have kidney stones its been like clockwork every 2yrs I have a kidney stone obstruction and need surgery they grow 2-3mm larger every time…. now its been every 6 months for the past 3yrs! Id rather live the rest of my life with a migraine over having that kidney stent in …. just a mention ??????????

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Re: Yuck (# 11)

Same for me. Totally all in my stomach area. Wasn’t until I went up to 200 mg did i notice the weight gain. I’m active walking and swimming. I hope I won’t be stuck with this weight.

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Re: JK123 (# 68)

No, you are wrong. Keep your opinion to yourself. It causes fluid retention to the extent you can't pee. The fluid will travel. It may cause over-eating, but for the most part it is the other.

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Re: tlcstork (# 42)

When I took the drug lyrica, I realized I stopped peeing. Only drops of urine coming out. I put on 30lbs during the 2 /1/2 months.
I weighed the same since HS. Retention has to be at work here cause I could not pee like I had before taking the awful poison.

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I had just going through. Cancer. My weight was nothing. I could not eat and it was going down faster by the day the chemo almost killed me. My pain Dr put me on Lyrica 220mg per day. I put on 53 lbs eating NOTHING.

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What should I do to lose the lyrica belly and fat around the waist? I eat dangerously little and exercise one half-hour a day, but cannot do anymore as I am weak. Thanks.

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Re: Lorraine (# 2)

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 300 for several years and I gained weight on lyrica... Try looking up and researching CBD oil (legal in all 50 States) or even better medical marijuana or smoke it 2 or 3 times a day...it works amazingly...no side effects (CBD oil... whereas marijuana/THC will cause some mental changes but that subsides after taking it for a while and increased appetite). It is natural, not physically addictive, works great on pain and you can function better..lyrica causes confusion amoungst other things. Google CBD oil and nerve pain...CBD is over the counter or can be purchased at some pharmacies. I get a very pure CBD oil...if interested, Sam Harry's CBD has the most reasonably priced CBD OIL that I have found with its purity...and has a better taste than others I've tried... Let me know how it works for you...tell them Karen told you about it as they know me there.

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Re: Linders (# 139)

Reading comments clearly Lyrica causes weight gain..I don't eat any extra food since I've been on in...after a recent holiday of typical eating out I gained 1lb..if I eat healthy I can't even shift any weight..I know I need to do exercise but the 18lb ive gained within 2 months of going on lyrica 3 years ago makes it quite hard on my joints. I'm at hospital on Tuesday about body pain..I've had the Butrans patch but still need medication to top it up..

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Re: Yuck (# 11)

100% totally agree with everything you've said... I've yet to find an answer but will keep my eye on this site. I live in the UK. My daughter has gained 6 stones...luckily mine is just under 2 stones.

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