Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Lyrica as follows:
- Lyrica carries significant risk of lowering the platelet count and result in episodes of easy and unexplained bleeding. Lyrica must be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals with history of thrombocytopenia, as lyrica carries the risk of aggravating the symptoms of this blood disorder. Individuals with thrombocytopenia can present with easy bruising and small purple patches on the skin due to reduced clotting ability of blood and episodes of poorly controlled bleeding into the skin.
- Lyrica carries the risk of inducing/aggravating abnormal body movements or dyskinesias, such as, unusual eye movements, blurred vision, muscle weakness, unsteadiness, motor incoordination, and compromised balance, thus increasing the fall risk. Dyskinesias could be due to side-effects of various medications intake or secondary to movement disorders, such as, Parkinson’s disease. Irrespective to the cause of dyskinesias, individuals with history can be at increased risk to present with aggravation of the condition and so, lyrica must be avoided or carefully administered in such individuals, with periodical physician follow-up. Report any such findings to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered.
