What Causes Weight Gain In Lyrica (Page 3)

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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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41

When you said "it's like living in someone else's body" it hit me hard because that's exactly how I feel. Been on Lyrica x 2 yrs and have gained 50 lbs! Take it off-label for anxiety and it works great, as well as benzos. Can someone please help me with the wt issue? Please! Please! Please!

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42

I was put on Lyrica for a neuropathy just over a year ago. I gained 35 pounds in the first 2 months!! I've only put on another 5 over the rest of the year but...YES...I feel like an alien has taken over my body! My skin also broke out horribly. I tried to wean off of it a couple of weeks ago and had horrible side effects from that! Then I was in dire pain again so had to go back up. Oh, when I got down to 1/2 my usual dose I lost 6 lbs. overnight! But, when went back up I gained it all back in 2 days. I've tried every other med known to possibly help - really. Now I'm going for the invasive procedures. I have to get off of this drug! I turned 50, got fat and bad skin! So unfair. I eat almost Nothing and still can't lose weight on this med.

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43

I was put on a low dose of Lyrica (25mg once/day for the first week and then twice/day thereafter) to see if it would help my sever lower back pain, neck pain, and entire body joint pain and severe foot pain. It immediately improved the burning pain in my lower back and improved my foot pain to the point that I can readily walk again. I read a lot of online info about people gaining weight. Lyrica has had the opposite effect on me. Within a week my appetite dropped considerably. I still get hungry but my cravings have all gone away and I only seem to feel the need for food twice a day. My weight has started to decrease as well slowly but steadily. I was very concerned before I started taking it because I feel that additional weight will only make all of my pain symptoms worse. But after dealing with the pain for years, and then getting results from Lyrica after the first dose I remained on the med and prepared to manage the weight gain. According to the internet forums regarding Lyrica, it doesn't sound like my experience is common. But it may be because people only tend to go onto the internet when they are experiencing a problem. Maybe my experience with Lyrica seems uncommon because people with positive experiences don't get online to write about their experience.

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44

It is great to hear that someone has had a good experience with Lyrica. Weight gain aside, which I managed to loose eith diet and exercise, it has been given me a chance to have a normal life again. I still know I have pain and know where, but it is not so overwhelming that I can't go out and do things. I tell me doctor it is one heck of an antidepressant! Thanks for sharing

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45

It just makes you hungry, and crave carbs, you guys. Some people also gain water weight. Make sure you're on the right dose, eating right and exercising if you're up to it. Anyway, weight is weight.

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46

I also have gained a significant amount of weight mostly in the belly. After talking with my family dr and doing a little research on lyrica I have found that it makes your metabolism crash. It basically tells your body to take the fat and unnecessary nutrients from what you eat rather than just what your body needs. If it wasn't the only thing that worked for my nerve pain I would drop it in a second but unfortunately nothing else helps with ny nerve pain. As much as I hate the extra weight I had to weigh the pros and cons for myself and decided less pain was the best choice for me.

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47

my opinion is the dose doesn't seem to make a difference with the weigh but it does make a difference to your well-being if you change the dose. I went down on the dose to drive across country due to the fatigue I get and noticed when I went back up that I started feeling off. So be sure to check with your doctor. I think the best thing to do is be on that ideal diet of low carbs, no sugar, and really exercise. Same thing everybody recommends for loosing weigh and getting in shape. It is a shock on how fast the weight comes on and where it hits in the belly. I don't know if there is a connection between nerve pain and gastro problems but I found that the bloating really went down on a low fat and low fiber diet. crazy after all the years of salads and raw veggies, but it seems that I also have IBS and gastroparesis. So really work to see which diet works for you. Important to know if you are gluten and lactose sensitive. Sugar and refined food must go out of anybodies diet that has any type of chronic pain or disease issue. That is a given. If the Lyrica helps so you can exercise then it is important that you stay on it!

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48

this is my story too...it think lyrica is making me more depressed as well...I just feel horrible, but it takes the pain away. I have had headaches, that last for months on end. And now they are gone !!! BUT the weight, it's horrible. I was always fit, going to the gym everything. Now I don't want to go out of the house. I am depressed, tired all the time. Yes my headaches are gone 80% of the time Thank God !!! and my aching joints !!! and I suppose it all comes with a price...either suffer with gaining weight and having no pain, or go back to having headaches everyday for the rest of my life and my joints paining and losing the weight....which would you pick?? :(

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49

I forgot to add I am on 375 mg at bedtime

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50

33 yr old, 8 weeks postpartum and 6 weeks post microdisectomy and lamanectomy. Prescribed Lyrica post surgery.

In the 2 weeks post birth I managed to lose 10kgs and be 4kgs off my pre baby weight, thanks to Lyrica I've now put back on 5kg - mostly around the stomach and legs. I'm battling with enough depression having been hospitalised for 5 weeks with my back and not being able to bond with my newborn, this drug is certainly not helping with that and the extra weight not helping my rehab!

After reading everyone else's posts I'm getting straight to doc and asking to come off it. I'd rather find another way to get through; swimming and yoga perhaps when I'm moving again properly.

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51

Wow, what a God send this thread is. I've been on Lyrica for 5 yrs.A motorcycle accident damaged the nerves in my left leg. At first I got really dopey but that passed. I didn't really notice any significant weight gain. Then 2 yrs ago I caught a really bad lung infection and was hospitalized for 11 days, I lost 23 pounds almost overnight. When I got better and the weight started to come back, it went to my normal of 175 and just kept on going. I've 200 now and starving myself to stay there. I ran out of Lyrica for only 3 days (ouch) and lost almost 5 lbs. Now I know why. I'm going to try to get off of it completely.

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52

So how are the side effects of not taking Lyrcia??

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53

I've been taking 150mg twice daily for years. Missing 3 or 4 days and I started to crash. Depression, exhaustion, headaches, legs felt like giving out on me. I'm going to taper and ask my doc for something else for the leg pain..

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54

Good Idea about tapering off !!!! :) I think I will ask my Doctor about doing this for me too. I don't feel good on this stuff mentally, but it takes my pain away, maybe I will look into other ways for my pain like, Chronic Pain Classes, Acupuncture, etc There has to be something else...Happy New Year, and TKS for replying so quickly :)

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55

Response to Yuck message: I couldnt have written a better post either! I 1000% agree and I think we ALL would love a magic recipe to zap Lyrica weight gain. I have gained 45lbs in 6months. Im heavier than I was at 9 months Pregnant :( Lyrica Does NOT mess with your appetite. Or not mine anyway. I have eaten less, work out more and have still gained so much weight. Anyone out there that knows something all of us don't? I got off of it and lost the weight, but the withdrawals were horrible.

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56

I am currently weaning off Lyrica. The schedule the doctor set was too fast and I almost lost what stability I have left. I slowed it down on my own and the going is much better. Does anyone have any input into how hard it will be to lose the 50+ pounds I've gained?

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57

It will take some time, but it will come off. Investigate every way to boost your metabolism, since Lyrica lowers it to nothing. Try going vegetarian for awhile. Eat tons of veggies with I Cant Believe it's not butter Spray (no calories, tastes like butter). You'll raise your metabolism by exercising 30 minutes a day, rain.or shine. Swim, walk, whatever your body can stand. It's not forever, just commit until you've lost the weight.

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58

Has anyone seen their glucose or Ac1 reading go way up on since being on Lyrica?

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59

I stumbled across this thread because I have been having blurred vision and was looking to see if this may be a side effect of taking gabapentin. I was shocked to find so many people with complaints of weight gain. I have been on 300mg of gabapentin three times a day for three months and have not experienced any weight gain. I guess it just depends on how the drug affects your individual body.

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60

I have been taking 150 mm Lyrica twice a day for three months now and I have gained 12 lbs. I don't have puffy fingers and feet. I sleep like a baby and I can manage my pain. I have been indulging in ice cream, cake and large helpings of the main course. I gained the weight because I ate too much. Now that I know what can happen, I had better get back to a normal diet. I walk my puppy three times a day, but that isn't going to get rid of the belly fat .

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