What is the best antidepressant to take with Lyrica? (3 common ones) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “What is the best antidepressant to take with Lyrica?”. Lyrica is an antiepileptic drug, which can also be used for other conditions like nerve pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, etc.   

Lyrica can be paired with a lot of medications, like antidepressants. This is all we are going to talk about today. We will also discuss the best possible combinations of antidepressants and Lyrica. 

What is the best antidepressant to take with Lyrica?

The best antidepressants to take with Lyrica include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 

Lyrica can be paired with SSRIs and the combination is considered a safe and effective one. Lyrica basically works by blocking the voltage-gated calcium channels in your brain that are responsible for the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters. 

The excess of these neurotransmitters increases the electrical activity in your brain, which results in excessive neuronal firing that causes seizures. Lyrica blocks this entire activity and reduces the frequency and severity of your convulsions. 

SSRIs work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT). This way, more amount of serotonin is available to bind to its respective receptors and this is how they counteract the symptoms associated with depression. 

It is a known fact that SSRIs take time to work. These meds do not work overnight and you have to give them a considerable amount of time to be accepted by your body and to start working. 

This can become a problem during the treatment and management of major depressive disorder (MDD), which is a persistent type of depression. 

When these meds are combined with Lyrica, it results in the augmentation of SSRIs and they start to kick in way earlier than their usual time. Some of the common SSRIs include:

• Sertraline (Zoloft) 
• Fluoxetine (Prozac) 
• Escitalopram (Lexapro) 
• Paroxetine (Paxil) 
• Citalopram (Celexa) 

SSRIs can also be paired with Lyrica for purposes other than a major depressive disorder (MDD). The pair can also be used for the management of fibromyalgia, which is a severe kind of pain. 

Some antidepressants can be used for fibromyalgia like Sertraline, Paroxetine, and Fluoxetine. However, make sure that you ask your healthcare provider if this combination is suitable for you and is the best possible choice of meds.  

Some common side effects associated with the use of SSRIs include

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea or Constipation 
• Acid reflux or heartburn 
• Abdominal pain 
• Loss of appetite 
• Weight gain or loss 
• Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis) 
• Frequent urination 
• Polydipsia or excessive thirst
• Tremors 
• Muscle twitching and pain
• Drowsiness 
• Dizziness 
• Excessive tiredness or fatigue 
• Insomnia or inability to fall asleep 
• Xerostomia or dry mouth 
• Dysmenorrhea or heavy periods
• Flu-like symptoms, including irritation in eyes and runny nose
• Sexual side effects 

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) 

Lyrica can also be paired with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These meds together can be used for the management and treatment of MDD and nerve pain. 

Several studies have revealed that Lyrica combined with Duloxetine can be a good choice for the treatment of nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Many clinical trials were performed in which different research designs were used. 

A double-blind study was also conducted in which around 300 patients were included. The participants were divided into the combination group and the placebo. 

After a few weeks of investigation, it was observed that the group which received the combination of Lyrica and Duloxetine showed significant relief in their nerve pain, as compared to the placebo. 

The concomitant use was also well tolerated because the doses were properly adjusted and kept low, especially during the early course of the treatment. This is a known fact that the treatment with new medications or unknown combinations should always be started from the lowest effective doses. 

In case of an unfortunate event or an inevitable allergic reaction, the damage caused by lower doses is easy to deal with. People tend to recover faster from the side effects, whereas higher doses can cause far more damage and some of it may not be repaired. 

Some of the common SNRIs include:

• Venlafaxine (Effexor) 
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta) 
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) 
• Milnacipran (Ixel) 
• Levomilnacipran (Fetzima) 

Some of the common side effects associated with the use of SNRIs include:

• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Sleepiness or hypersomnia
• Decreased salivation leading to dry mouth 
• Vertigo 
• Loss of appetite 
• Excessive sweating
• Constipation or diarrhoea 
• Weight gain or loss
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating 
• Flatulence 
• Headache 
• Muscular pain

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) 

Tricyclic antidepressants can also be paired with Lyrica for the purpose of the treatment and management of fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain. However, this combination has to be monitored properly because of the possibility of unwanted side effects. 

This is because TCAs are associated with a number of disturbing side effects. They were first considered the first line of therapy for depression, but the side effects of the drug made it extremely difficult for people to tolerate it well, which led to the discontinuation of the treatment. 

This is why newer and safer antidepressants replaced TCAs with time. However, if we talk about neuropathic pain, TCAs are considered a pretty good option for that, but still, they are used cautiously. Some of the common TCAs include:

• Elavil (Amitriptyline) 
• Pamelor (Nortriptyline) 
• Tofranil (Imipramine) 

Some of the side effects associated with the use of TCAs include:

• Painful urination 
• Dry mouth or xerostomia
• Gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting 
• Weight gain
• Vertigo 
• Drowsiness or extreme fatigue 
• Constipation 
• Abdominal pain
• Enlarged breasts
• Heartburn
• Excessive sweating 

What are the side effects associated with the use of Lyrica? 

Lyrica is associated with the following side effects:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea or Constipation 
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Flatulence and bloating 
• Unusually elevated mood
• Forgetfulness or difficulty in remembering things
• Difficulty in speaking 
• Difficulty in decision making 
• Confusion 
• Lack of confidence 
• Impairment of motor coordination 
• Anxiety 
• Loss of balance
• Muscular pain 
• Joint pain 
• Muscle twitching 
• Weight gain 
• Increased appetite 
• Weakness 

Some rare and serious side effects include:

• An allergic reaction, including symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, rashes, painful dry patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc. 
• Swelling in different parts of the body, including the tongue, lips, gums, neck, face, throat, upper and lower extremities, etc. 
• Muscle pain
• Fever with or without chills

Ensuring the proper use of Lyrica is the main key to achieving your desired therapeutic goals. First and the most important thing is to make sure that you are not allergic to Pregabalin. 

If you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect right after taking your first ever Lyrica dose, then Lyrica is not a good choice of medication for you. 

To prevent that from happening, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist about the excipients present in the formulation to make sure it does not contain anything that you know you’re allergic to. 

It is also extremely important to inform your doctor about all the meds you have been taking before you take Pregabalin. Medications don’t always go well together. Some meds are highly incompatible with one another. 

Some meds are incompatible in terms of the side effects as they all cause the same kind of side effects that may become too much for you to bear. This is why you should inform your doctor if you have been taking anything like:

• Vitamin or mineral supplements
• Hypertensives, especially ACE Inhibitors 
• Antiarrhythmic drugs 
• Other antiepileptics
• Antidepressants like Monoaminoxidase inhibitors 
• Anti-anxiety medications 
• Antihistamines 
• Drugs used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder 
• Sleeping pills 
• Narcotic analgesics
• Other controlled substances
• Alcohol

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed the best antidepressant to take with Lyrica. Lyrica can be paired with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, etc. 

All of the combinations hold some great clinical importance and they can be used for the treatment and management of the major depressive disorder, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. However, make sure you always ask your healthcare provider before using any medication. 

If you begin to exhibit any sign of disturbing mental behaviour, like forgetfulness, mood swings, irritability, confusion, etc, immediately seek medical attention and inform your doctor that the medicine is causing psychological side effects. 

FAQs: best antidepressant to take with Lyrica 

What antidepressant is good for nerve pain?

A number of antidepressants are used for the management and treatment of nerve pain. Some antidepressants can be used for fibromyalgia like Sertraline, Paroxetine, and Fluoxetine. However, make sure that you ask your healthcare provider if this combination is suitable for you and is the best possible choice of meds. Venlafaxine, Duloxetine, and TCAs can also be used for the same purpose. 

Does pregabalin reduce serotonin?

No, Pregabalin does not reduce serotonin levels. It is an antiepileptic medication and it basically works by blocking the voltage-gated calcium channels in your brain that are responsible for the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters. The excess of these neurotransmitters increases the electrical activity in your brain, which results in excessive neuronal firing that causes seizures. Lyrica blocks this entire activity and reduces the frequency and severity of your convulsions. 

Is pregabalin better than antidepressants?

Pregabalin and antidepressants are entirely different medications and they are used for the treatment and management of different types of health conditions. However, there are some common conditions that are treated by both of these meds, like anxiety and fibromyalgia. However, there is no way to tell which one is better as some people respond well to antidepressants, while other people respond well to Pregabalin. Make sure you ask your healthcare provider before using this medication.

What is pregabalin used for mental health?

Pregabalin can be used for mental health conditions. It works by blocking the voltage-gated calcium channels in your brain that are responsible for the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters. The excess of these neurotransmitters increases the electrical activity in your brain, which results in excessive neuronal firing that causes seizures. Lyrica blocks this entire activity and reduces the frequency and severity of your convulsions. The drug has been used for decades now and is considered a very good addition to your epilepsy treatment regimen.

Is pregabalin used as a mood stabiliser?

Pregabalin can be used for the treatment and management of anxiety. It can block the release of a number of excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate. These neurotransmitters are the main reason why your anxiety flares up. Lyrica helps control your anxiety by blocking these chemicals. However, you should never start taking Lyrica without your doctor’s approval. However, it is not used for depression or any other mood disorder.

References 

• Newer Antidepressants in Combination With Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia Syndrome https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02451475
• Antidepressants, Lyrica OK Combo in Fibromyalgia https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/acr/42653 
• Pregabalin in the treatment of depression https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17984164/ 
• Lyrica – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-93965/lyrica-oral/details
• Lyrica https://www.drugs.com/lyrica.html 
• National Library of Medicine – Pregabalin https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605045.html