Lyrica/Pregabalin weight gain

I have been on this drug for about a year now and have gained 56lb in this time. Now, I was slightly underweight before after having surgery on a serious long-term illness (now all resolved). However this level of gain is not normal and can't be healthy. I eat a decent diet and not too excessive most of the time, and get moderate exercise.

I REALLY want to stop taking it, however it is far too helpful for the severe neurological pain condition I have. So my questions are:

- Has this happened to other people?

- Is it possible to lose weight on Lyrica? i.e. if I properly diet and exercise I can lose weight as normal.

- Will the weight drop off if I stop taking it? (which I'm going to have to do soon)

- Is there an equivalent drug that can replace it without causing weight gain?

I have SUNCT by the way (is in the same family of disorders as cluster headaches), so am looking at a few other medications to hopefully replace it with.

Appreciate any help with this.

Yes I gained about 40lbs going into my 2nd year on it. I try to eat healthy and don't eat a lot yet crave sweets really bad . Its a no win really as the lyrica plays such a big role in my pain treatment yet the added wt gained is hard on my knee and spinal issues ??

As for dropping the gain after stopping the med ? Not sure but its always easier to put it on then take it off .

I've been taking Lyrica for a little less than a year. Gained on it as well...however, been following weight watchers and watching my diet.

Have lost about 5-6 pounds so far this year...

Though, I only gained 20ish last year...not sure if that was the Lyrica's fault..

I have been taking Gabapentin since the Summer and have had a LOT of weight gain! I do think that a lot of it is bloating, though not all. I've been using the Master Supplement system (probiotics, enzymes & fiber) for a little over a month now and they have made my digestive tract start working properly again. In weeks 2-3 of taking this system I dropped 12 pounds. I haven't weighed myself since the 3 week mark so I don't know if I've lost more. I think it was all water weight that I dropped, because my upper arms and girls got noticeably smaller and have stayed that way. I still have a lot of weight to go, though!

I'm bummed, because Lyrica is one of the meds that my PMD suggested that I research. I'm hoping there is something out there that can help with my nerve pain as much as the Gabapentin, but without the weight gain! It does seem that these meds cause the weight gain for some people, but not for others. Our bodies are all so different!

For those of us who take these meds with "weight gain" as a side effect, and yet we continue to eat clean and be active, (and still gain weight), I can always feel myself turning bright red when the doctor tells me I need to lose weight.

Really?

I know what I weighed before starting this drug, and I'm doing the same things as I was prior and the weight is really adding up.

But the "reason" I'm in pain is "because of weight?"

I was in pain before this drug, and in more pain after the drug's side effect of weight gain.

Okay, I'm done ranting. The drug that did me in was Neurontin, so not the same thing, but I couldn't get over how fast the weight came on. You'd think I was eating a whole cow a day or something.

I've been off of it....haven't lost anything yet, but stopped gaining.

There must be more to these drugs in terms of how they affect our bodies. There's got to be!



M.

Merrida: Neurontin is fairly similar in mechanism of action, so I would not be surprised if that causes qeight gain as well.

I have been taking 300mg/ day in two divided doses. However my condition has got a lot worse so am now taking 450 (300 in evening) which helps a lot.

I swear I am gaining a pound a day or something, its really stressing me out and I don't know what to do aside from starve myself.

Starving yourself would only make you gain more holy! Lol :(

Cause then anything you ate would be converted to stored fat because your body would think it wasnt gonna eat again anytime soon!