Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Lyrica as follows:
- Taking the medication at regularly spaced intervals helps to maintain appropriate blood levels of lyrica needed to derive the beneficial effects.
- Lyrica can induce some dizziness and make one drowsy. Lyrica also carries the risk of lowering the blood pressure, leading to episodes of hypotension that can contribute to the dizziness caused by the medication. Starting the medication at a low dose and gradually increasing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until they are used to the side effects caused by lyrica.
- Lyrica can interact with a lot of other medications, leading to serious drug interactions and side-effects. If you are being newly started on lyrica, discuss with your physician regarding all your current medications and their safety with lyrica. Also, notify your physician regarding any current lyrica intake, if you are being started on any new medications and discuss their safety with lyrica.
- Patients with history of mood disorders, secondary to lyrica intake, can experience deterioration and worsening of symptoms of mood disorders. Individuals can present with worsening complaints such as, feeling low and depressed, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, gross appetite changes, impulsiveness, agitation, aggression, and suicidal thoughts. Notify your physician regarding any such worsening mood changes, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised.
