Lyrica has a newly defined mechanism of action and represents an important treatment advance. It is the first treatment approved by the FDA to treat two distinct forms of neuropathic pain, and is the first new anti epileptic drug introduced in five years.
Neuropathic pain, one of the most debilitating forms of pain, is caused by nerve damage that can result from underlying conditions, such as diabetes or shingles. Nearly half of the 18 million Americans with diabetes will develop some form of diabetic neuropathy over the course of their disease. Some will develop painful DPN which is often described as burning, tingling, sharp, stabbing, or pins and needles in the feet, legs, hands or arms.
Partial onset seizures represent over half of all seizures in patients with epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition affecting nearly three million Americans.
“I am pleased to be able to prescribe Lyrica for my patients,” said Dr Edgar Ross, director of the Pain Management Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Until now, we’ve had limited options to treat patients with these types of neuropathic pain. I have seen the benefits of Lyrica in providing rapid and sustained pain relief among my patients in the clinical trials.”