Hello Mrs. D!

I have a question for you (and also experenced users) about Lyrica regarding weight gain.

I have begun taking just one 50mg tablet at bedtime, and found that it helps give me a great night's sleep.

I am also a 52 year old male who is 5'8" and weighs 175 pounds.

If I just take the 50mg tablet once per evening and never raise that dose, am I likely to experence the weight-gain and swelling commonly mentioned?

I had read elsewhere that the weight gain seems to be dose-dependent and I did not think that 50mg of Lyrica once per day is that high a dose
(and here is that link):


http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/lyrica/ly...ight-gain.html


I appreciate your opinion.

Thank you!

David

It is difficult to say. Not all people get the weight gain.

Some people do get the edema, and this translates to some weight gain.

Watch your food, avoid carbs...ignore cravings if you can.

Your dose is low..so that is in your favor.

[QUOTE=Apollo;741372]Hello Mrs. D!

I have a question for you (and also experenced users) about Lyrica regarding weight gain.

I have begun taking just one 50mg tablet at bedtime, and found that it helps give me a great night's sleep.

I am also a 52 year old male who is 5'8" and weighs 175 pounds.

If I just take the 50mg tablet once per evening and never raise that dose, am I likely to experence the weight-gain and swelling commonly mentioned?

I had read elsewhere that the weight gain seems to be dose-dependent and I did not think that 50mg of Lyrica once per day is that high a dose
(and here is that link):


http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/lyrica/ly...ight-gain.html


I appreciate your opinion.

Thank you!


Which has similar side effects of Lyrica. I was starting to get fat(ter), with some mild water retention. Dr. gave me a mild diaretic (which I am sure has it's own side effects.) I am taking the lowest dosage of Gab. I can without too many breakthru neuro sensations. I did this by adding Elavil (generic.) But also, as Mrs. D. said have been cutting down on carbs and sugars. I am not exactly loosing weight, but have noticed less water retention and weight is stabilizing. Seems (for me) when I don't have carbs, sweet, etc......., I kind of loose my cravings for them. If I have a little, it turns into a spiral of cravings and over eating.

--whether used for the relief of neuropathic pain or not, seem, with the exception of Topomax (and nobody seems to quite know why with that one) to have, as a common side effect, weight gain, either through fluid retention, carb craving, or both.

As Mrs. D notes, not all people expereince this, and there does seem to be at least some dose dependency. But it happens often enough that people taking them are well advised to pay close attention to their nutrition--and hey, we'd probably all be healthier eating fewer carbs anyway.

.... thanks to all.

David

Seems to me that it's pretty hard to say what will cause weight gain and what not for any particular person. Gabapentin didn't for me, then Amitriptyline didn't, then the two of them together didn't, but the two of them with the addition of Tegretol all of a sudden did. Was it the Tegetretol by itself or the cocktail that did it for me?

My doc is going to take me off of the two above mentioned anti-sezures since none of it is helping, and replace them with Topomax. I know that one has a reputation for being hard on the kidneys, but what to do? Being in constant pain isn't so good for anyone either.

But I'll tell you one thing I know David: if there is a drug out there that would relieve my pain, and also caused me to gain weight, I'd take it in a heartbeat! I used to think that weight gain was a deal-breaker, but at this point, it's just collateral damage.

the term 'rapid weight gain'......until it happened to me and this was when I was put on Lyrica (much higher dose than yours)....... However I don't know that I can put the entire blame on that particular med, as I was also put on others and was dealing with Hypothyroid in that same timeframe.

But, what scared me the most about the 'rapid' weight gain (as in 9 pounds in one month!) was becoming short of breath and the high blood pressure that went along with it. This was downright SCARY! It seemed like it became out of my 'control' and I wasn't really eating much at all!

It was a Neurologist who put me on this 'instant' high dose cocktail of Lyrica, Amitriptyline.....and whatever else I was taking at the time (can't recollect)....it just ended up being a very bad 'mix' for me and the confusing condition/symptoms I was facing.
Obviously too much too soon....

This was a few years ago and I've since lost the weight and won't ever go on that high a dose ever again....... I do take a very low dose of Neurontin (Lyrica's cousin) and seem to be ok.

You 'know' your body. If you notice what seems to be 'rapid' weight gain....I'd certainly not put off keeping it in check, cuz it can get out of control, fast.
And yes, the liver enzymes shot up too.

Wishing you the best
Rae

Weight control has been a battle I've lost all my life, and I finally became satisfied with a weight of 220 at 6'1"(about 20lbs over optimum) for most of my adult life until I got PN.
I went on gabapentin and gained 30lbs in 6 mos.
I stayed at 250 for 4-5 years and then went on Weight Watchers and lost 25lbs in 6mos but it was a severe battle. This was not edema or water retention but carbs gain.
Then the gabapentin stopped working and I searched for a year, trying new meds and rejecting them until Lyrica came on the market. I started on Lyrica and it took my pain levels and sx down significantly. Better than anything I'd tried before.
But within 4 mos, I was back to 250.
Then I stopped smoking (after 55 yrs of smoking cigarettes) this past summer (Aug) and put on 20-25lbs more.
Now I'm carrying 25% more than my original weight and am up to 270+.
The thought of doing battle with a diet program is frightening.
I feel I want to go back to smoking, or.... something, I don't know. I just can't stand the thought of trying to lose weight again. It always has been so difficult, and I now should lose 50+ lbs! Its downright depressing.
I don't know if I can do it.
I'm still battling the urges to smoke,.... but I haven't caved in.

Bob,
you are such an inspiration to so many people (more than you may realize).
PLEASE don't fall back in that rut PLEASE
I truly believe in my heart that you've added years to your life because of your determined effort to quit.

I miss being able to 'swim' (and by 'swim' i mean flapping around in the water )....nontheless, even treading water helped tremendously because it required moving basically ALL my muscles, it's non-weightbearing (trying to lose weight by walking is too painful on legs/feet).....and basically therapeutic in general. The warm water felt soothing and I could just 'feel' my circulation improve tremendously
As soon as I recoup from a surgical procedure, I'm back to the aquatic healthcare!

I know that swimming and water therapy isn't for everyone.....and it can be hard to get motivated to GO (especially in the cold winter).... but perhaps something like this might be something you could latch on to? Something to fill in where the cravings try to set in.

Every single time I would do the pool thing, I felt SO GOOD about myself. Proud that I made myself DO it...and my whole body felt rejuvinated.
Therapy pools are not anything like 'regular' pools..... meaning.....there are no 'inhibitions' at therapy pools. No one is there looking at your swimsuit or how overweight/underweight you are......everyone is there for the same cause - to better our health.
Whenever I would see an older person or an overweight person make their way to the therapy pool, I always get a sense of admiration thinking "Now THERE is someone who CARES about their wellbeing".....not to mention the significant people in their lives who will appreciate having them around longer.

Maybe try not looking at it as 'DIET'....we all know that 'diet' is DIE with a 'T'
I bet if you can find something that will fill the void where that temptation is lurking, the pounds will just kinda 'melt' off without you even being aware.
And oh Lord, please don't get on a scale every day......maybe once every 2 weeks. It just becomes way too discouraging trying to lose weight if we look at the whole thing......rather than just letting one pound drop at a time.

It would break my heart (and others!) if you cave in!

Ok, so there....I've BEGGED ....... if this doesn't work, I'll try threatening tactics next if you DO cave in, then I'm gonna go buy a bottle of tequilla......ohhhhhh boy is my family ever gonna be pist at YOU!!

Rae

I've mentioned it before, as have many others, but since we got on to weight here... I'm carboholic, so I'm on Dr. Tennant's Intractable Pain Diet, and being unable to exercise, it's the only way I've lost any weight (instead of putting more on) in 7-8 years. Down 30 & counting (plateaued right now, but sticking with it.)

I balked the first time I looked at it too, but the first week was the only tough part. It's part of my lifestyle now - piece of.... cheese.

Doc