New Treatment Available For Two Often Under-Recognized Pain Conditions (NAPSA)—A new prescription medication can help provide relief to millions of Americans who suffer from two of the most common forms of nerve pain. Pfizer’s Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules C-V is now available for patients with nerve pain associated with diabetes, pain after shingles and also as an add-on treatment for partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. Nerve pain is caused by nerve damage that can result from underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or shingles. Nearly half of the 18 million Americans with diabetes will develop some form of diabetic nerve damage over the course of their disease and about onein six will experience diabetic nerve pain. Diabetic nerve pain is often described as burning, tingling, sharp, stabbing or pins and needles in the feet, legs, hands or arms. Pain after shingles affects about 150,000 Americans each year andis often characterized as constant stabbing, burning or sensitivity to light touch. “Until now, we’ve had limited options to treat patients with these types of nerve pain,” said Dr. Edgar Ross, director of the Pain Management Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “I have seen the benefits @ of Lyrica in providing rapid and sustained pain relief among my patients in theclinicaltrials.” Developed by Pfizer, Lyrica has a newly defined mechanism of action and represents a therapeutic advance. It is the first treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat two distinct forms of nerve pain. Lyrica is also the first antiepileptic drug introduced in five years. Partial onset seizures represent more than half of all seizures in patients with epilepsy, a chronic condition affecting nearly three million Americans. Epilepsy can affect the ability to work and drive. It is linked to a number of other serious conditions, including anxiety and migraine, which may contribute to poor seizure control. Despite the availability of current treatments, many patients still experience uncontrolled seizures. The most commonside effects of Lyrica are dizziness, sleepiness, dry mouth, swelling of hands and feet, blurred vision, weight gain and trouble concentrating. The discontinuation rate due to side effects was low. Patients with a history of drug or alcohol abuse may have a higher chance of misuse or abuseof Lyrica. For more information, visit www.lyrica.com.
