MONDAY, June 13, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer drug Lyrica (pregabalin) for partial onset seizures, the most common form in adults with epilepsy.
Used in combination with other epilepsy medications, Lyrica helped decrease seizures by as much as 51 percent among patients who experienced an average of 10 seizures per month, the company said in a statement. The drug's effectiveness was established in three trials involving more than 1,050 patients, Pfizer said.
Common side effects reported during clinical testing were dizziness, dry mouth, blurred vision, weight gain, and difficulty concentrating.
Lyrica, to be available in the fall, will be sold as a controlled substance, the company said. It was first approved in December 2004 to help manage diabetic pain.
Here's a scientific abstract from the FDA explaining Lyrica's uses as a diabetic pain reliever.
