Hi Dr. V. My mom’s physician wants her to take Lyrica. My mom says Lyrica is a narcotic. Is that so? She doesn’t want to take it for fear of addiction.
Thanks!
Gabby
Hi Gabby,
Thanks for your email.
Lyrica is not a narcotic nor does it contain addictive properties. Lyrica is chemically and structurally similar to gabapentin (Neurontin) and is used to help relieve certain types of nerve pain or seizures. From my experience, Lyrica has worked well for patients with pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia or migraines. However, dizziness, tiredness and weight gain have been common side effects. This side effects certainly are different for each patient. There is no generic available for the medication yet so check with your insurance carrier to see if it’s covered.
Hope this helps.
Dr. V