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questions about Lyrica

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Posted 7/24/2013 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hello All, I have a question about Lyrica. I have been taking it for a week and my thinking is: it ain't worth it. I know I should stay on it for awhile for it to start taking effect, but the side effects are not worth it to me. Am I the only one that feels this way? I feel like I am trading my overall pain for several new ones. My symptom of light sensitivity has grown much worse, this headache is getting worse the longer I take it not to mention the leg cramps, swelling, dizziness and severe stomach cramp to mention a few. I am really not liking the weird thoughts I am having.

Any thoughts on this subject?

Thanks

Posted 7/24/2013 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
What exactly are you taking the Lyrica for PBJ? Also, what dosage are you taking? You could always start at a lower dose and slowly titrate up to minimize the side effects. Lyrica treats neuropathic pain, so it won't work on all kinds of pain. My experience with it was that it took me a good two weeks to get past the side effects, and I still feel kind of lightheaded/foggy/forgetful from time to time.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of all the side effects either, even after getting over the hump with them, but it's the only thing I've tried in the last seven months that's even touched my chest pain, so for now I know I'm going to stick with it.

If you don't like the side effects but want to stick with that class of drugs, you could try neurontin (aka gabalin/gralise), which was the "original" of these kinds of drugs. I took this for about nine months for migraines and had no major side effects (don't think it even worked as a migraine/headache management med for me either, so I got off it).
Posted 7/24/2013 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Make a note of all this and slowly taper off the lyrica and let your doctor know when you see him/her again about all the side effects. I took one lyrica at the ten minute mark I could tell it was helping and at the 15 minute mark I started throwing up so bad almost ended up in the ER the next day dehyrdated, threw up until 1:30 p.m. the next day and I had taken it at 6:30 p.m.on the first day...never will take this medication ever again...So let me emphasis you taper off this medication slowly or go to your doctor as soon as possible and get his/her help in coming off this medication slowly....
Many well wishes and I hope your doctor can try you on another medication or refer you out to pain management...
Posted 7/24/2013 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Chartreux, I took the first pill and at the 15 minute mark, I started feeling really bad, my heart rate and breathing changed. I am being started out on 25mgX daily. I could only get the first pill in me since I was so grogged out, I forgot to take the rest of my meds the first several days.

yup, I am not going to continue taking it since I looked down in the bathroom and saw how swollen my knees are. My doc has me taking it for my RA and possible Fibro. I was going to try going down slowly by a half pill but can't do that with the capsules(oop). Soo, my Ma suggested I increase the time between one pill. Holy Cow, the pain it's causing with the stomach cramp and back spasms. I think I'll just tough out the RA pain until I cannot take it anymore. I'm so not a fan of drugs but realize now that I have to take them or end up in a fetal position under my bed.

Thank You and Thank you Vitaka for the input.

I will call my doc about it. I am hesitant since I have developed a weird fear of letting them down about my not tolerating the drugs they've tried to put me on. It's like they get annoyed at me and it makes me feel like I am a slacker or something. Is that weird?

Posted 7/24/2013 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear you're having such a tough go PBJ. Now that I hear more, I completely agree you shouldn't continue with taking it. And yes, I wouldn't open the pills. Personally, because you were only taking it a week, I don't think there should be an issue with just stopping the medication, but I am not a doctor, so you may want to just call your doctor's office and ask (you should be able to get the answer to that question before you see your doctor). If not, then waiting a day or two between pills should be fine.

Don't worry about calling your doctor! You are not letting them down. During 2013, I talk to my GI sometimes three times a week about my symptoms, my meds, etc. I too am very sensitive to meds and have had a number of bad reactions, so my doc tends to be very careful when she gives me something new and always wants me to check in. I've tried and then stopped probably close to 10 new medications over the last year alone because they didn't work or I had a bad reaction. Doctors are there to help--it's their job--so don't ever worry about calling them when you're feeling unwell.

I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 8/2/2013 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Lyrica is nasty stuff (for me anyway). Doc thought I had neuropathy. one year later, the docs were wrong, and now it's late stages of RA. I do have hydrocodone (sp?) but don't care for it either. Waiting for more test. On the Lyrica, it made me "high" the first week and felt good, after that it made me very agitated and just a hateful person.

Been off of it for a month now, the pain is there but mentally I can deal with it.
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