Lyrica Helps with Restorative Sleep

July 2, 2007
by: Stephanie

Just read about an interesting study that showed that Lyrica (pregabalin) helped the participants get more restorative sleep, not just fall asleep faster. Thanks to Dr. Steven Poceta, a neurologist, who explains on his Revolution Health blog:

"Slow wave sleep is deep—hard to wake up from—it is highly conserved and the first to recover after sleep deprivation, and it is the stage in which growth hormone is secreted in children. Slow wave sleep seems to diminish as we age. In some ways, slow wave sleep is the “holy grail” of sleep disorders. Getting more of it is always better (more restorative), just like getting younger."

He also hypothesizes that Lyrica's ability to increase slow wave sleep may explain its effect on helping people with fibromyalgia pain.

As those with chronic back pain know all too well, the problem isn't just getting to sleep but staying asleep long enough to wake up restored and refreshed.

Let's hope that the scientific community continues to produce and refine agents that will help people with chronic pain get sleep in long enough stretches - true restorative sleep - in order to help them heal.

Posted by: Stephanie

Additional reading:

• Chronic Pain and Insomnia: Breaking the Cycle
• Lyrica Approved to Treat Fibromyalgia