Comments on: Uses of Pregabalin (Lyrica) + Side Effects & Dosage

By: Kathy Burns

Kathy Burns — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 21:28:19 +0000

I took this crap and gained 70 pounds in one month. BE AWARE! I went from a size 10 to a size 14 in one month. Every time I see the commercials I get angry.

By: Jeffrey K

Jeffrey K — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:33:28 +0000

Carol, while I’ve heard that Gabapentin can cause cognitive impairment, especially at higher doses, I can’t find any evidence that either drug has anticholinergic properties. One study tested for anticholinergic effects and didn’t find any.

That obviously doesn’t mean the drugs are “safe,” or that we won’t discover anticholinergic effects, but for now, they don’t seem to have direct action on ACh receptors.

By: carol close

carol close — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 20:00:27 +0000

Pregabalin reduces the release of several excitatory neurotransmitters, including glutamate, substance P, acetylcholine and norepinephrine….. Also, an independent action of the gabapentin site on the neurogenesis of excitatory synapses has been discovered. The endogenous neurochemical thrombospondin also binds to this site and is important for the generation of new excitatory synapses. Gabapentin and pregabalin, having a high affinity for this site, block this action and result in lower levels of excitatory synapses in animal models. So, beware as anticholinergics cause dementia.

By: carol close

carol close — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 23:10:12 +0000

This is on the list of drugs that are anticholinergic and cause dementia and increase brain atrophy. Lyrica /Pregablin and Gabapentin cause memory problems that may be irreversible because they are anticholinergic.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28436193 Association between using medications with anticholinergic properties and short-term cognitive decline among older men: A retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.“The use of anticholinergic drugs has been strongly associated with adverse health outcomes, including cognitive impairment, dementia, falls, functional decline, hospitalization and mortality, especially in older adults.”
Health professionals may not realize that the medicine they are prescribing could affect the brain. In our opinion medical students are not given enough information on this crucial topic. And prescribers do not have easy access to a list of drugs that affect the action of acetylcholine in the brain.