Lyrica CR

Lyrica CR is a prescription medication used to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes and shingles.

Lyrica CR belongs to a group of drugs called anticonvulsants, which may work by decreasing pain signals from the brain and slowing brain activity.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once a day after an evening meal.

Do not chew, divide, or break Lyrica CR tablets. Swallow tablets whole.

Common side effects of Lyrica CR include dizziness, drowsiness, and headache. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lyrica CR affects you.

Lyrica CR is a prescription medication used to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes and shingles.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lyrica CR. See the “Lyrica CR Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Lyrica CR include the following:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• headache
• lack of energy
• swelling of hands, arms, feet, or legs
• nausea
• blurred vision
• dry mouth
• weight gain

This is not a complete list of Lyrica CR side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been evaluated by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Lyrica CR is a controlled substance (CV). This is because it can be abused or lead to dependence.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lyrica CR including the following:

Serious, even life-threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking Lyrica  and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these signs of a serious allergic reaction:

• swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck
• trouble breathing
• rash, hives (raised bumps) or blisters

Lyrica may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: 

• thoughts about suicide or dying
• attempts to commit suicide
• new or worse depression
• new or worse anxiety
• feeling agitated or restless
• panic attacks
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• new or worse irritability
• acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
• acting on dangerous impulses
• an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
• other unusual changes in behavior or mood

If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, do not stop Lyrica without first talking to a healthcare provider.

• Stopping Lyrica suddenly can cause serious problems.
• Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions? 

• Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
• Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
• Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
• Do not take Lyrica if you are allergic to Lyrica or any of the inactive ingredients in Lyrica. 
• Do not drink alcohol while taking Lyrica.

Lyrica may cause other serious side effects including:

• Swelling of your hands, legs and feet. This swelling can be a serious problem for people with heart problems.
• Dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive a car, work with machines, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Lyrica affects you. Ask your healthcare provider about when it will be okay to do these activities.
• Muscle problems, muscle pain, soreness, or weakness. If you have these symptoms, especially if you feel sick and have a fever, tell your healthcare provider right away.
• Problems with your eyesight, including blurry vision. Call your healthcare provider if you have any changes in your eyesight.
• Weight gain. If you have diabetes, weight gain may affect the management of your diabetes. Weight gain can also be a serious problem for people with heart problems. 
• Feeling "high," intoxicated, or euphoric (extreme feelings of joy or happiness).

Lyrica CR can cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lyrica CR affects you.

Avoid alcohol while taking Lyrica CR.

Do not take Lyrica CR if you are allergic to Lyrica CR or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Lyrica CR, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Lyrica CR, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Lyrica CR or to any of its ingredients
• have or have had mental health issues such as depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors
• have heart problems
• have kidney problems
• have bleeding issues or low blood count
• have or have had abused medications or alcohol
• have ever had angioedema, which is swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, lips, gums, neck or throat
• plan to father a child
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

If you become pregnant while taking Lyrica CR, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs, including pregabalin, the active ingredient in Lyrica CR. 

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Lyrica CR has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Lyrica CR, it is not recommended to breastfeed during treatment with Lyrica CR.

Take Lyrica CR exactly as prescribed.

Lyrica CR comes in tablet form and is taken once daily with the evening meal. 

Do not chew, divide, or break Lyrica CR  tablets. Swallow tablets whole.

If you miss a dose, take Lyrica CR before bedtime after a snack. If you cannot take the missed dose before bedtime, take Lyrica CR after the morning meal. If you cannot take the missed dose with morning meal, then take the next dose at your regular time after the evening meal. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended starting dose of Lyrica CR for the treatment of nerve pain with diabetes or shingles is 165 mg once daily. After one week, the Lyrica CR dose may be increased to 330 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose of Lyrica CR is 660 mg once daily. The Lyrica CR dose may be decreased in patients with decreased kidney function.

If you take too much Lyrica CR, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store at 68^oF to 77^oF (20^oC to 25^oC)
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.