Pain-Free Living

Pregabalin Improves Fibromyalgia Pain, Study Shows

By Megan Kaplon

A study of four similarly-designed clinical trials showed a portion of people with fibromyalgia (a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body) who took the drug pregabalin (brand name Lyrica) showed improvements in pain and sleep as soon as the first day of treatment.

The participants in each of the four 8- to 14-week trials self-reported their pain and sleep quality each day, with some participants receiving pregabalin and others receiving a placebo (inactive treatment). By the fourth day of the trials, at least 25% of participants taking pregabalin achieved sustained improvement in both pain and sleep quality. Immediate improvements in pain and sleep occurred by the first or second day of the study in some cases. Half of the people in the pregabalin group achieved sustained improvement in sleep quality by day 11.

The study concluded that both immediate and sustained improvements in pain and sleep quality occurred faster with pregabalin than placebo. The results of this study were published in the journal Pain Medicine on December 19, 2014.

For more information on the study, click here.

Last Reviewed January 7, 2015

Megan Kaplon is an editorial assistant for Arthritis Self-Management.

Get the latest arthritis news and the most useful self-management tips delivered to your inbox twice a month! Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter today.

Statements and opinions expressed on this Web site are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the publishers or advertisers. The information provided on this Web site should not be construed as medical instruction. Consult appropriate health-care professionals before taking action based on this information.