LYRICA question

Bill, have you tried neurontin? or the generic version-Gabapentin? they are the sister drug to lyrica. i tried lyrica while in the hospital, caused more problems for me, so i am back using gabapentin with no problems(except when i forget to take my dose:o ) there are also antidepressants that work well for some people, they work on pain. otc nsaids don’t usually work well on nerve pain. its really just a matter of finding the right combination for you, everyone is sooo different when it comes to manageing pain. Take care.

Bill,

I started taking Lyrica last week Wednesday night. I have had a weird dizzyness, drymouth, sleepyness (which is better than the fatigue I suffer from), and now that you mention it, the feeling does feel like cross eyes.
It has taken the almost constant burning cramping feeling from my hands away. However, the rest of my body started hurting again, and now my feet are hurting a little. My hands feel stiff in a way, and some pain happens now and then. Honestly I dont know what to think. I was dead set against taking this, but my doc wanted me to just try it for 2 to 3 months. I’m like you, on the fence, however I dont have to worry about the fertility problems.

I switched from Neurontin to Lyrica after about 2 years of high doses of Neurontin. I have had no issues at all with Lyrica that I know of. I like having less pills to take also and I don’t have that brain fog that Neurontin causes.

Jerimy

Hi,
After reading the other side effects, besides the gaining of weight, I have decided not to try the drug. I had to get special permission to get this drug on Medicare Part D. I have a bad feeling about this and I am usually right.

I don’t take neurontin because of weight gain and it never seemed to do a good enough job. When they took me to physical therapy they would give me a couple of Vicodine one-half hour before so I could handle the pain. In my mind that made me decide what was the best pain killer. By the way, I am on a anti-depressant and that is a sex drive depleter. Don’t care…. I can’t handle the tremendous pain.

Now I am on Vicodine ES and a Fentenal Patch(lasts 3 days and replace with another). I finally can sleep through the night and sleep much deeply than before. ( I also use 1 mg. Deserel) I use less Vicodine, only use when I have a pain break through.

I just started this but my Vicodine is down from 90 pills a month to 60pills and we will see at the end of the month if there is a marked improvement. I can feel some now, and I am very happy. Best of all the patch costs $10.00 per month verses $30.00 per month. When my Medicare Part D gets to the (as they call it) “The Grand Canyon, where the generic is the only drug covered and you pay full price for anything else, and lasts till you have paid out about $4000.00 out of your pocket). If not concidered a generic, it will cost $140.00 a month, and my Vicodine will cost $107.00 a month without help. Time will tell.

Hope you have a good insurance.

Judy

Hi Bill,
You might discuss with your doctor the possibility of trying Amitriptyline. It’s an antidepressant, but also works on nerve pain. It can take a couple of weeks to start working, but the only side effect I’ve experienced is some weight gain. It also helps me sleep better. I have been taking 75 mg at night, but just recently reduced that down to 50 mg.
I agree there is some trial & error involved. Lyrica & Neurontin didn’t work so well for me.
Good luck!
Debbie in Miami

There are many of us who are on Cymbalta for nerve pain. At the moment I am on 60mg x2/day. I find this really helps for my all over pain, unfortunately the greater hand and foot pain expeirenced when writing, cooking, doing exercises etc. was becoming almost a constant and the Cymbalta wasnt doing anything for it. That is why my doc decided to put me on Lyrica. He started me on 150mg x2/day, but because of my side-effects decided to reduce it down to 50mg and work up. It definitely helped my hands, and I didnt realize how constant and disruptive the burning and cramping was until I stopped having the feelings, I even realized that I was constantly massaging my hands to try and help the pain. Lets see if the side effects dissipate, hopefully the benefit to my hands will still be there.

is this not a depress med? Im on Lyrica 2 a day, and the pain is unblieven hurting. I would think I need some more med while it hurt so much.

Bill,

Over the years I have tried several. I was on Paxil before GBS and am still taking it – 20 mg. I was on neurotin for years, then stopped that as it seemed not to help. I am on amitryptiline 25-50 as needed and have gained about 30 lbs. over the past 3-4 years 😮 It is in the classication of antidepressant, but it is not an SSRI. I just started a new multi vitamin with lots of B12 and hope I can cut out the amitryptiline and lose some weight as the docs are now telling me that is the priority so I don’t get diabetes. Oh, and I did try Cymbalta last year for about 4 months and had a very scary time mentally with it and it seemed to not help after a couple of months. Like Ali, I don’t have to worry about the fertility issue, but I think if that is on your agenda I wouldn’t take anything to jepordize (?sp) that!

Good Luck!

Helga,

When you say that you take 2 a day, how many milligrams are the capsules?? That seems like a pretty small dosage if they are 100mg capsules. I have to take 600mg a day (200mg x 3 times per day) in order to get the relief I need.

Jerimy

[quote=tofraljos]is this not a depress med? Im on Lyrica 2 a day, and the pain is unblieven hurting. I would think I need some more med while it hurt so much.[/quote]

I had no luck with Amitriptyline and vicodine could not relief me enough and both seem to make me sick to my stomach. I have been on Lyrica and Topamax for almost a year now. The only side effect was the weight gain but i think i have that under control now with swimming and dieting alittle. I am on 600mg as Jerimy, sometimes a little more if i need but i feel nothing has relieved this pain as well as Lyrica for me. Good Luck Bill.

I take 300 mg x2 and 225 x1 of Lyrica, they increast it for I have been having terrible pain in my foot