Pfizer Inc said today that
the European Commission has approved Lyrica(R) (pregabalin) for the treatment
of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults. In the European Union, it is
estimated that nearly 12 million patients suffer from GAD on a yearly basis
yet only one-third of these patients are properly diagnosed and even fewer
received effective treatment.
Lyrica's approval was based on five randomized double-blind clinical
trials involving over 2,000 patients. Data from a combination of five
placebo-controlled studies demonstrate that Lyrica provides rapid and
sustained efficacy for the treatment of GAD. As early as the first week of
treatment, Lyrica was shown to be significantly effective in providing relief
of both emotional symptoms, such as depressive symptoms and panic, as well as
physical symptoms, including headaches and muscle aches.
"GAD is much more than the normal anxiety people experience under times of
stress. It is a chronic, debilitating illness that can greatly disrupt an
individual's daily life, yet the disorder is under-treated," said Dr. Stuart
Montgomery, Professor of Psychiatry, Imperial College School of Medicine,
University of London. "Now that Lyrica is available, we have a new treatment
option to help alleviate a broad range of emotional and physical symptoms of
this prevalent condition."
Generalized anxiety disorder, which affects an estimated five percent of
people at some point in their lives, is a common and chronic psychiatric
disorder characterized by excessive worry and tension about everyday routine
life events and activities. Physical symptoms include poor sleep and fatigue,
while the emotional symptoms include difficulty concentrating, irritability
and restlessness. Generalized anxiety disorder occurs more frequently in
patients with other chronic medical illnesses, especially those associated
with pain conditions. The direct annual healthcare costs associated with GAD
in Europe are approximately $1.5 billion.
"Lyrica represents an innovative treatment advance for patients suffering
from generalized anxiety disorder," said Dr. Joseph Feczko, president of
Worldwide Development at Pfizer. "Early diagnosis and effective treatment is
critical since prolonged anxiety increases impairment and worsens the outcome
of co-existing illnesses."
The most common adverse events reported by patients were dizziness and
drowsiness. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in intensity and
generally dose related.
In the United States, Lyrica(R) (pregabalin) C-V capsules are approved for
the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia and
adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures. Lyrica is an alpha-2-delta
ligand that is believed to work by calming hyper-excited neurons.
Developed by Pfizer, Lyrica has been approved for various neuropathic pain
indications including peripheral neuropathic pain, diabetic and post herpetic
neuropathic pain and adjunctive therapy for epilepsy in more than 60 countries
outside of the United States.
Pfizer Inc
http://www.pfizer.com
Lyrica Approved For The Treatment Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) In Europe
Published
Published Tue 28 Mar 2006
Related coverage
Lyrica Approved For The Treatment Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) In Europe


I found the article interesting. I am a Licensed Psychiatric Technician in California. I would have liked to see more information on the exact likenesses and differences between Gabapentin and Lyrica. I have given Gabapentin to agitated mentally ill adolescents with fairly good results in alleviating agitation. I would like to know if Lyrica is stronger than Gabapentin and also if it is effective in alleviating panic disorder or any other anxiety related disorders that respond well to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. The benzodiazepines are very effective but drug tolerance is very quick thus making them ineffective without increasing dosage and therefore becoming addictive thus they are a Schedule IV drug whereas Lyrica is a Schedule V. I would like more information on more clinical trials of Lyrica and if it could be used in place of benzodiazepine.
I HAVE LIVED WITH A PERSISTANT ANXIETY FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. I HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO CURE THE SITUATION IN EVERY CONCIEVEABLE WAY. EXRCISE, THERAPY, SPIRITUALITY, DIET AND MY OWN FIELD RESEARCH IN THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT, TO NO AVAIL. MY CONDITION WAS OF THE INTESITY THAT WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD ME TO UNMANAGEABILITY, NO MATTER WHAT THE QUALITY OF SITUATIONAL, EXISTENCIAL STIMULUS. I HAVE KNOWN NEUROTIN TO BE OF SOME RELIEF, ALTHOUGH WHEN THE DOSAGE IS INCREASED INTO THE PROPPER RANGE, FOR DISIREABLE BENIFIT, THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE A DETRIMENT.
6 MONTHS AGO, I HAD BEEN PUT ON LYRICA TEMPERARILLY, FOR PAIN. I HAD QUITE A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING LYRICA IN ITS VARIOUS TREATMENTS BUT NOT IN REGARDS TO ANXIETY. I HAD KNOWN ITS RELATION TO NUEROTON SO I WAS CURIOUS.
THE BENIFITS WERE, IN MY OPINION, MIRACULOUS. I PUT UP QUITE A LENGTHY DEBATE OVER A 2 WEEK PERIOD AND THE PRESCRIPTION CHANGED TO TREAT THE ANXIETY. I HAVE SINCE MOVED AND ANTICIPATING ANOTHER DEBATE WITH MY SOON TO BE CARE PROVIDER.
I TAKE 100mg IN THE MORNING (7 am), PREFERIBLY WITH FOOD TO STRETCH THE CURVE. AND 100mg AROUND 6pm. I REALLY WANT TO PROMOTE LYRICA FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERSISTANT ANXIETY IN ANY WAY I POSSIBLY CAN. MY LIFE HAS BEEN ON HOLD AND I DONT WANT ANYONE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAVE ENDURED.
I notice improved reduction in nerve pain in both my feet. At first I was taking 75 mg, then upped the dosage to 125mg. Seem to do the trick & feels different when I flex my toes. Really surprised I must say. What a relief!
I am glad to see that Lyrica helped everyone's anxiety. I was put on 100 mgs. of Lyrica and my anxiety got worse. When we stopped it, I calmed down. Has anyone experienced this?
I was perscribed Lyrica for nerve pain in my ankle. After a few days I noticed I felt like my anxiety was greatly reduced (never have been clinically diagnosed, but I feel like I have anxiety constantly). Also, I seemed to be in a better mood all of the time. I would even wake up chipper!
Ditto...I am a nurse by profession (hospital) and mostly saw Lyrica used for CFS or back injuries in the past. Never really cared about it until I needed it. Have ALSO had stable GAD and DDD at L4-L5, L5-S1, for many years. Occasionally I would flare and once I was given a sample of Lyrica; Gabapentin was ineffective. The Lyrica was awesome; I literally felt like I had no back problem. The gnawing pain was gone. Also, my anxiety was absent, I was calm, not neurotic under stress (my trademark I admit).
Unfortunately a month later when I needed to fill the Rx, I found it was not labeled [by the FDA] for radiculopathy or facet joint pain; DENIED! I told my doc, with the Lyrica I did not need any narcotics, I felt more limber and spasm was gone. If I had CFS it would be covered (mind you a syndrome often not discernible by an assessment). Now I find it MAY be approved for my GAD. That would be great. In my view, I could probably replace these prescriptions: xanax, Vicodin, Parafon forte, gabapentin, and Flector patch by treating my symptoms with 75mg of Lyrica.
Is that outcome based enough for the FDA?
Lyrica has caused blackouts, automobile accidents, extreme sedation, bradycardia, death and near death in some patients & been very helpful to others.
While some seem to do well on Lyrica, the risks seem to FAR outweigh the benefits in many patients who are sensitive.
Far more research, including comparative research to other drugs for chronic pain, including pre-reformulated oxycodone extended release and other opiates for pain may need to be used in conjunction with gabapentin or Lyrica.
While there are some who use gabapentin/Lyrica as an anti-epileptic, it may reduce the seizure threshold with extended use. Some do fairly well on benzodiazapines on the same dosage for extended periods of time, for years in fact, although through the teens and 20's and with hormonal changes, the dose may need to be increased to 10+mgs. per day, or better if another drug such as Dilantin can be added, as long as there are no serious side-effects such as bleeding, etc. Lyrica can be added, although those with unspecified seizure disorders seem, in my experience, to be prone to to adverse reactions, such as excessive sedation, hallucinations and even suicidal ideation.
The use of gabapentin/Lyrica for adolescents and children has not been established. Off-label use is ill-advised.
I was given samples at my doctor's office of Lyrica and did not have any idea what to expect. I had been on medications for anxiety for over 20 years daily. I was given Lyrica for sleep and just happened to notice how much more calm, focused and even happy I was. Then I tell my doctor this only to find out that Pharmacare will not cover this drug under any circumstances. No exception. They suggest Gabapentin. I am not familiar with any of these medications but are they the same? I have been told Lyrica is the better choice. Now I cannot take it and wonder what the purpose of taking the samples were! Thanks for reading.
I'm a 55yo businessman. I've had GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) for 18 years. Lyrica combined with Ritalin has finally fixed it.
I was so bad that I've been curled up in the fetal position in bed with muscle tension and have had to be dragged out. I’ve lost businesses and hundreds of thousands of dollars, probably more, because I was unable to run my businesses properly. The boss curled up on the floor at work, unable to make decisions, is not a good look.
I suspected ADHD for many years and was finally given Ritalin which helped a lot, but the GAD was sill bad. I've tried all the drugs, alternative medicine, new age stuff, etc., etc. Nothing worked.
My Psychiatrist "experimented" with 75mg Lyrica for mild restless legs. The GAD started lifting within a few hours and was gone within 24. I was slightly euphoric because "THIS STUFF WORKS". The European literature matched my experience and side effects exactly, but said it took at least a week for their results. I knew nothing about this until afterwards so my experience probably isn’t placebo effect.
After a few weeks I found I was up and down massively depending on the levels of drugs in my system. I'm good now as long as I control them carefully. I’ve been doing this for a few months and everything seems stable.
My medications work for almost exactly 3 hours, so I reset my cellphone alarm each time I take them. The Ritalin timing is critical. I can usually feel the tension coming back after about 3 hours. If I take the Ritalin within 10 minutes I'm fine. If I get distracted and delay taking it, I drop into a hole over about an hour, and sometimes start bashing my head. Half an hour later I’m fine again. Ritalin takes almost exactly an hour and a half to kick in suddenly for me.
Ironically Lyrica gave me new restless legs. It feels like I have rubber bands attached to the front of my thighs. Lyrica also gives me bad munchies in the evening if I don’t counteract it with the Ritalin, and Lyrica lasts longer so I make my last dose of the day Ritalin only. It is still causing some weight gain.
Neither my Psychiatrist nor GP were aware of the Lyrica approval for GAD in Europe, so I’ve had to work out my own dosing regime and tell them what works.
I take a 54mg Concerta (slow release Ritalin) with a 150mg Lyrica before I get up. Every 3 hours I take another 150mg Lyrica and a 10mg standard Ritalin tablet. My state law limits me to 80mg Ritalin a day, so when I work 16 hour days I’m over the limit. So on some days I have to cut back. It means I’m taking slightly less Ritalin than I really need, so I often get jittery under stress, which seems to burn up the medications faster.
After stress or at the end of the day, or if I miss a dose or don’t take the extra Ritalin because I have to stay within the limit, I get very tense, very twitchy and unable to concentrate. This is just my GAD coming back, not side effects.
The vision side effects from Lyrica also seem to occur when the level in the bloodstream is dropping and I’m tired. They are an inability to focus on moving things, and reduced peripheral awareness. It takes a discernible time to focus on stationary items. Twitchy, and slow focus: There’s no way I can drive then.
As far as driving is concerned it’s like alcohol, it depends on how much is in your system. Unlike alcohol, I know when I’m uncoordinated, but I don’t have loss of inhibition, so I don’t drive until I’m better. I’ve given myself some DUI functional tests: walking a straight line, touching my nose, etc., and seem to be functionally OK when I feel OK.
I suspect that if I was allowed enough Ritalin to take it at two and a half hour intervals, or at least to cover longer days, I wouldn’t have to be so obsessive about timing, and would be able to adjust the dose to allow for stress. The legal dose seems pretty arbitrary and seems to be extended from kids who only have to be calmed down for the relatively shorter school hours.
Given that ADHD brains react differently to stimulants, I suspect that Lyrica will work for GAD for some brains and not for others, just like all the other drugs.
Lyrica costs about $120 for 56 tablets and is not subsidized, so I spend about $10 a day on pills. Not good, but together with the weight gain and rubber band thighs, a small price to pay for having my life back, after 18 years of hell.
I have been freed from my generalized anxiety as a result of taking 50mg of lyrica for intense shingles pain. I have had severe nerve pain from the results of the shingles virus for 17 months..and noted from the start that The lyrica relieved completely my generalized anxiety. recently I decided to try to live with the pain,after 5 days my forgotten general anxiety creeped back into my life..a very unsettled paralyzing anxious feeling that leaves me with no sense of well being and minimal impetus to do anything(at it's most benign)..I had forgotten completely this feeling which I have lived with through my life.
I went back to the lyrica, why live with pain AND anxiety?
I do wonder about the long term effects. I feel the lyrica has affected my memory (recall).When the nerve pain is gone,I will try 25mg of Lyrica and am hoping it will have the same good effect. I prefer being a productive,peaceful individual.I live in France where 58 25mg capsules cost 20 euros.