What Causes Weight Gain In Lyrica (Page 3) (Top voted first)

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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Lyrica does male me gain weight. I am 5'4 and currently 134 lbs. Prior to Lyrica, I weighed between 110 and 115 all the time. I have been on lyrica for about a year. I take 150 MG a day. It has caused me to fall, be unaware of what is going on around me, I have slurred speech, severe dizziness, and I sleep a lot. I have had type 1 diabetes for almost 23 years and I suffer from neuropathy, fibromyalgia and R.A. Diabetes alone causes me to feel depressed. Lyrica furthers the depression somehow. I went from being a beautiful, fit, positive person to a chubby, out of shape, negative one. I believe Lyrica caused my appetite to become out of control. Even with fighting the urge to eat everything I can get my hands on, my metabolism seems to be at a crawl bc I am still gaining weight. I'm still pretty young, so it's not bc of the aging process that my metabolism has slowed down. I didn't have these problems until lyrica. I love the way lyrica takes the pain away. I just hate that I'm getting heavier and heavier, feeling depressed, not able to drive after I take it, and how the sleepiness and dizziness have reduced my social life to almost nothing. I don't even have time to pig out, because I'm asleeo all the time. The thing is, if you plan to use Lyrica, you need to be prepared to accept the side effects. Lyrica does what it supposed to do. Unfortunately being pain free with Lyrica isn't a win win for me.

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I read your concern, I have gained and maintained a lot of weight even though my activity is increasing and watching what I eat. But, the neuropathy pain I had prior to lyrica was intolerable. It has helped me sleep and relax and increase my activity. I am trying to wean off slowly, and it is going very slowly. I think you have to decide what is more important and if your taking lyrica will be long term, that is the way I would look at it ,knowing what I know, I wishing you the best.

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Omg I'm so nervous after reading all your posts ... I been on lyrica for two months gained 15lbs already... My dr wants me off percocets but the side effects from lyrica are scary .. I'm scatterbrained and have thoughts and emotions that aren't normal for me... Not sure what to do... Any thoughts?

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

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

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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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I'm a Lyrica fatso too and need it (so it says) for pain. Is there a substitute for Lrica that may work in my case. Ihave non-diabetic nerve pain in my feet and legs and back pain from a skiing accident. I want to be skinny and fit again, but I'm 86 now and exercise is difficult. Any suggestions ... I really hope there's a way out of this mess.

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Gabapentin is not the same as Lyrica. Lyrica is stronger. I've had Gabapentin before and it didn't make me gain any weight either. Im going to try it again, but last time I had it, it didn't work for my pain.

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I actually have lost weight with no dieting or much exercise using wellbutrin with Lyrica!

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I couldn't agree more - and I stopped taking Lyrica 3.5 years agao and still have
THE MIDDLE TRUNK - it just squats there!!!

Not one solution or reason from the company that made it or the med boards that approved it.

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Tammy I hope you are also replying to JK123 not me because I agree with you. I do believe it causes weight gain. I only holding it off be exercising 7 days a week and severely reducing calories. The far in the mid section is a reality and it is depressing.

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Hi Tina - Yes I am love. Really annoys me when I get uneducated answers to a problem no-one could possibly understand or fathom unless they have lived or are living through it. Good luck and let me know if you come across any new info at anytime, as I said I have been off it for 3+ years and still cant get ride of my 'spare tyre'.

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I have decreased my Lyrica dosage from. 300 mg. to 150 mg. I actually, unintentionally made a delicious tuna casserole, and forgot the tuna. I didn't recognize my curling iron one morning-same one I'd used forever. It just didn't seem like the one I'd been using,
I have gained 12 lbs. since starting Lyrica in December. The weight does not come off. I take Yoga Thursday nights. I use the treadmill four days a week. I walk my dog around a big complex twice a day and go up and down concrete steps 4 to 5 times a day. I am almost 76.
Since I reduced the Lyrica dosage my memory has come back. I have started taking L Carnitine, also. I hope it helps weight loss. Something has to help kick - start the Lyrica fat out of my body. I know dieting & exercise alone aren't working. Don' let them tell you Lyrica doesn't cause weight gain and it 's because you eat way too much. Most of all don 't give up. Keep trying.

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Hi - they were referring yo my metabolism and its ability to function the way it is suppose to. In essence the metabolism HSS been slowed down and damaged by Lyrics, that it is virtually impossible to get it to work or function properly again.

As far as the mind fog and memory loss, I am still battling and haven't recovered fully. I suffered from several mood swings, that I don't even recall. - loss of eye function that I now wear glasses - hallucinations, it looked like the road was wrapping up in front of my car when driving - just to mention a few.

My children where the ones that went with me to the doctor, who had been our family doctor for years and begged him to stop the Lyrica as they didn't know who I was anymore.

I stopped cold turkey and was bedridden for 4 weeks the pain that returned was so BAD - it literally felt like all the pain I hadn't felt when on the Lyrica, came back in one go.

My question is ....... It is very clear that this drug has more cons to pros and adverse effects and damage to 99.9 percent of people that use it. SO WHY IS THE MEDICAL BOARD AND FDA NOT DOING FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON IT AND STOPPING THE USE OF IT TILL IT IS RESEARCHED PROPERLY AND SOMETHING FORMULATED TO FIX THE DAMAGE IT DOES?

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