Lyrica not Music to Chiropractor’s Ears

Greenville, NCLyrica is part of a class of medications originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment and management of elliptic seizures, although in recent years indications have expanded to include symptoms of neuropathy and fibromyalgia, an increasingly common complaint. However, a basket of Lyrica side effects – many of them serious – have many patients considering a defective product lawsuit over the alleged harm the drug may be doing to them long term.

Dr. Robert McCarthy, a chiropractic physician with a practice in Greenville, North Carolina, has a few things to say about Lyrica and Neurontin (gabapentin), a sister psychopharmacologic drug to Lyrica and also manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

Dr. McCarthy posted a video to You Tube a year ago August promoting a regular workshop he holds on neuropathy. In so doing, he sounds the alarm about the potential damage these drugs are allegedly causing, about which patients are most likely unaware.

A research paper published by Stanford University in October, 2009 studied the association between gabapentin (Neurontin) and the destruction of synapses, the connections between nerve cells which, in the brain, have much to do with the capacity for cognitive thought and function. For a pregnant woman, a woman thinking about becoming pregnant or for a man who may consider fathering a child, gabapentin is thought to serve as a risk to proper formation of synapses in the fetus.

While the study is more closely focused on gabapentin, Lyrica (pregabalin) possesses equally-troubling side effects such as suicidal thoughts. Such information is actually carried by the official Lyrica website in an expandable window titled ‘Important Safety Information & Indications’.

The text begins, in bold, with “LYRICA is not for everyone."


“Lyrica may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking Lyrica and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Some signs are swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck or if you have any trouble breathing, or have a rash, hives or blisters.

“Drugs used to treat seizures increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Lyrica may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

“Some of the most common side effects of Lyrica,” says Pfizer, “are dizziness, blurry vision, weight gain, sleepiness, trouble concentrating, swelling of your hands and feet, dry mouth, and feeling ‘high.’ If you have diabetes, tell your doctor about any skin sores.”

Back to Dr. McCarthy: “Not only can Neurontin or Lyrica not fix your neuropathy, it is speeding up the destruction of your brain. Fifty years ago we did not hear about dementia or Alzheimer’s. Today, we’re creating it ourselves.

“This is insane.”

Little wonder Lyrica patients and their families are considering litigation citing defective product liability.