Is anyone familiar with the medication called lyrica?!

Is anyone familiar with the medication called lyrica?

my doctor gave me a sample to use . I had tests made today at the hospital to see if i have apinched nerve in my neck. I'm wondering if there's side affects to this stuff.

My husband takes Lyrica daily. It was prescribed for him initially as a medication for pain. He was having severe pain in his hips and lower back. Lyrica is generally prescribed for patients with permanent nerve damage. It is often prescribed for patients with diabetic neuropathy. It is also used to treat seizures.

Although my husband was found to have no nerve damage, he found that the Lyrica helped the pain he was having. The side effects were wicked at first, but after he had been on the meds for 7 or 8 days, the side effects decreased. Now when he misses a dose, his pain is much greater the next day.

Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, unsteadiness, fatigue, swollen arms/legs, increased appetite, weight gain, nausea, dry mouth or constipation.

When you start this medication, your dosage will probably need to be increased slowly by your doctor to reduce side effects, especially dizziness or drowsiness. Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.

Depending on your condition, and the severity of your pain, you may want to talk to your doctor again prior to taking Lyrica (pregabalin) and discuss your concerns with the MD. This is a potent medicine, with some major side effects, with a possibility for "dependency", and it affects the Central Nervous System. Also, once you have been taking Lyrica for a while and it is in your system, you cannot just stop taking it. "Following abrupt or rapid discontinuation of pregabalin, some patients reported symptoms including insomnia, nausea, headache, and diarrhea. Pregabalin should be tapered gradually over a minimum of 1 week rather than discontinued abruptly." according to the leaflet insert.

Hope this helps.