How long should you take Lyrica for nerve pain? (3 studies explained)
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “How long should you take Lyrica for nerve pain?”. Lyrica is an antiepileptic medication that can be used for a number of other health conditions, including nerve pain. This blog will cover the time taken by Lyrica to cure your nerve pain and how to ensure the proper use of this medication.
How long should you take Lyrica for nerve pain?
You should take Lyrica for nerve pain as long as it takes for this med to cure your pain completely. The effects of the drug should be evaluated every 4-6 months.
Some people start to feel pain relief almost immediately, whereas some people may take up to 3 weeks to notice significant changes. Lyrica works differently with different individuals. This is why you should always consult your healthcare provider before taking Lyrica for nerve pain.
In general, Lyrica is classified as an antiepileptic medication. It works by blocking the voltage-gated calcium channels in your brain that are responsible for the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters.
The excess of these neurotransmitters increases the electrical activity in your brain, which results in excessive neuronal firing that causes seizures. Lyrica blocks this entire activity and reduces the frequency and severity of your convulsions.
The drug has been used for decades now and is considered a very good addition to your epilepsy treatment regimen. Lyrica is also used in the treatment and management of nerve pain that could occur because of a number of reasons. Some of these include:
- Nerve pain associated with diabetes
- Nerve pain associated with shingles
- Nerve pain associated with spinal cord injury
Lyrica provides promising results when it comes to the management of nerve pain. According to the NHS, Lyrica works by blocking the pain mediators travelling down your spine. It actively inhibits pain messages and blocks the perception of pain.
However, it may take a few weeks to control your pain and you may have to continue to take Lyrica for that purpose. Again, it is advised by experts here to not stop using Lyrica even on days you feel your pain isn’t that bad or when you can’t feel that.
Lyrica can cause a number of disturbing symptoms upon abrupt withdrawal. This is why you should continue to take this medication till your doctor asks you to stop.
For safe discontinuation of Lyrica, your doctor may suggest a proper taper schedule in which the doses are cut down gradually so that your body won’t have to face the consequences of the sudden change.
What does research suggest?
There are a huge number of research studies that have investigated the safety and efficacy of Lyrica for the treatment and management of nerve pain. A 2006 study is based on a clinical trial. A number of patients suffering from nerve pain were included in the study.
The daily dose range of 150 to 600 mg was used for this study and the doses were administered two to three times per day. A week after administering the drug, different outcomes were observed.
Some people showed a change in their symptoms and they felt significant relief in their nerve pain. Some people showed a slight change in their condition. It was there, just not strong enough to provide significant relief.
Some people, however, showed little to no effects. They felt no relief, whatsoever, in their nerve pain and continued to suffer. The treatment was continued for several more weeks and it was said that 90% of people showed significant change in their condition within 3 to 6 weeks.
A 2005 study investigated the same effects of Lyrica and observed the same thing. Some people begin to notice pain relief right away, whereas some people take a significant amount of time to show the effects.
A 2019 research review included 40+ research studies and the clinical trials that were performed in them. 10,000+ patients were included and the research was conducted for the course of 3 to 20 weeks. The results from all of the clinical trials were exactly the same.
Lyrica showed variable results. Some people showed good results in a short span of time, whereas some people showed little to no results. It took more than 4 weeks to observe noticeable improvement. The same was the case with the occurrence of side effects.
Some people showed little to no side effects. The common ones included dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, fatigue, tiredness, etc. Some people, however, showed a more severe side effect profile and a very small percentage of people were found allergic to Lyrica.
These research studies indicate that Lyrica can be used effectively for the treatment and management of nerve pain of different origins. You just need to give some time to the drug.
If it doesn’t work even after weeks of proper use, this indicates that either your dose is too low or Lyrica is just not the best choice of medication for you.
Just make sure you only start taking this med if your healthcare provider has prescribed it. Make sure to never stop Lyrica abruptly. Sudden withdrawal can lead to unspeakably disturbing symptoms associated with Lyrica withdrawal syndrome.
What are the side effects associated with the use of Lyrica?
Lyrica is associated with the following side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea or Constipation
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Flatulence and bloating
- Unusually elevated mood
- Forgetfulness or difficulty in remembering things
- Difficulty in speaking
- Difficulty in decision making
- Confusion
- Lack of confidence
- Impairment of motor coordination
- Anxiety
- Loss of balance
- Muscular pain
- Joint pain
- Muscle twitching
- Weight gain
- Increased appetite
- Weakness
Some rare and serious side effects include:
- An allergic reaction, including symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, rashes, painful dry patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc.
- Swelling in different parts of the body, including the tongue, lips, gums, neck, face, throat, upper and lower extremities, etc.
- Muscle pain
- Fever with or without chills
These side effects can vary from person to person. Ensuring the proper use of Lyrica is the main key to achieving your desired therapeutic goals. First and the most important thing is to make sure that you are not allergic to Pregabalin.
If you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect right after taking your first ever Lyrica dose, then Lyrica is not a good choice of medication for you. Always make sure to monitor the side effects Lyrica is causing in you and try to manage them properly.
If it makes you sleepy or dizzy, do not drive while the concentration of the drug is high in your body. If you begin to exhibit any sign of disturbing mental behaviour, like forgetfulness, mood swings, irritability, confusion, etc, immediately seek medical attention and inform your doctor that the medicine is causing psychological side effects.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have discussed the time duration taken by Lyrica for the treatment and management of nerve pain. Lyrica provides promising results when it comes to the management of nerve pain. According to the NHS, Lyrica works by blocking the pain mediators travelling down your spine.
It actively inhibits pain messages and blocks the perception of pain. However, it may take a few weeks to control your pain and you may have to continue to take Lyrica for that purpose.
If you begin to exhibit any sign of disturbing mental behaviour, like forgetfulness, mood swings, irritability, confusion, etc, immediately seek medical attention and inform your doctor that the medicine is causing psychological side effects.
FAQs: How long should you take Lyrica for nerve pain
Can you take pregabalin long-term?
Yes, Pregabalin can be used as long as it takes to counteract the effects of your illness. It is an antiepileptic drug which can also be used for the treatment and management of nerve pains, anxiety, and fibromyalgia. It works by blocking the voltage-gated calcium channels in your brain that are responsible for the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters. The excess of these neurotransmitters increases the electrical activity in your brain, which results in excessive neuronal firing that causes seizures.
What does pregabalin do for nerve pain?
Lyrica is also used in the treatment and management of nerve pain that could occur because of a number of reasons. Some of these include nerve pain associated with diabetes, shingles, and spinal cord injury. Lyrica provides promising results when it comes to the management of nerve pain.
According to the NHS, Lyrica works by blocking the pain mediators travelling down your spine. It actively inhibits pain messages and blocks the perception of pain. However, it may take a few weeks to control your pain and you may have to continue to take Lyrica for that purpose.
How long should you take Lyrica for nerve pain?
You should take Lyrica for nerve pain as long as it takes for this med to cure your pain completely. The effects of the drug should be evaluated every 4-6 months. Some people start to feel pain relief almost immediately, whereas some people may take up to 3 weeks to notice significant changes. Lyrica works differently with different individuals. This is why you should always consult your healthcare provider before taking Lyrica for nerve pain.
How long does it take for nerve medicine to work?
Time taken by your medication for nerve pain depends on a lot of different factors. According to research, the results are variable. Usually, a week after administering the drug, different outcomes were observed. Some people showed a change in their symptoms and they felt significant relief in their nerve pain.
Some people showed a slight change in their condition. It was there, just not strong enough to provide significant relief. Some people, however, showed little to no effects. They felt no relief, whatsoever, in their nerve pain and continued to suffer. The treatment was continued for several more weeks and it was said that 90% of people showed significant change in their condition within 3 to 6 weeks.
Does pregabalin affect sleep?
Pregabalin can affect your sleep by making you more drowsy. Lyrica helps control your anxiety by blocking the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate. These neurotransmitters are the main reason why your anxiety flares up. This way, it makes you calmer and more relaxed. It also helps relax your muscles, which can induce sleep.
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References
1.-
Brett R Stacey et al. Curr Pain Headache Rep. (2006) – Pregabalin for neuropathic pain based on recent clinical trials https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18778571/
2.-
Grazyna Zareba. Drugs Today (Barc). (2005) – Pregabalin: a new agent for the treatment of neuropathic pain https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16234874/
3.-
Sheena Derry et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2019) – Pregabalin for neuropathic pain in adults https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30673120/
