In studies of Lyrica’s effectiveness for fibromyalgia and shingles pain, participants have reported sleeping better while taking Lyrica.
On his RevolutionHealth blog, sleep specialist Steve Poceta wrote:
Lyrica has been shown to improve sleep in certain patients who have pain, such as fibromyalgia and shingles pain. However, it is also important to assess the effect of a drug on the sleep of normal sleepers, because the sleep of patient groups is by definition already abnormal.
Dr. Poceta also describes the stages of sleep and how different drugs target different areas. Although I had trouble summarizing his points, the explanation isn’t hard to read or understand. I recommend reading it.
For anecdotal evidence, a reader told me that since starting Lyrica in January, her migraines have gone from 3 or 4 times a week to about once a month. Her insurance won’t cover it, even after having her doctor appeal the first decision.
She spends $100 a month on the drug, although she just found a pharmacy that carries it for $72. Proof that shopping around is valuable!