Study: Lyrica Helps Fibromyalgia Patients

A University of Kentucky study suggests the drug Lyrica helps reduce the pain of fibromyalgia, a debilitating condition with few treatment options.

The study, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, said Pfizer’s Lyrica (pregabalin) significantly reduced pain and improved patients’ sleep. Lyrica was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last December for treatment of neuropathic or nerve pain.

In the study, patients taking Lyrica had a 50 percent or greater reduction in pain, compared with patients who took a placebo.

Dr. Leslie Crofford of the UK College of Medicine said in a statement that fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that affects 6 million Americans but has no approved treatment that relieves its core symptoms.

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown but it is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and sleep problems. It is difficult to treat, with most patients continuing to have persistent symptoms even after pain management treatments.