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Nucynta and Lyrica Zombie

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Posted 2/26/2013 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Well, I saw the PM Dr on Monday. In addition to the 100 mg of Nucynta x 2/day, he added 75 mg of Lyrica twice a day. I know a couple of you (e.g., Screaming Eagle) mentioning the symptoms not going away after months on the drug/s. At least with Oxycodone and Hydrocodone I got some pain relief and euphoria. So far all I've gotten from this stuff is an extremely detached feeling and serious light headedness. I know it takes time and some of the symptoms may abate but if they don't, I think I'd rather be in pain all the time. I just can't live like this for the long term. I feel like a zombie - well, not that I've ever actually BEEN a zombie but... skull
Posted 2/27/2013 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard with Nucynta it can take a couple weeks for the full pain killing effect to kick in. Also, its probably going to take about that long for your system to get used to the lyrica too.

I would try and stick it out for another week- maybe close to two before you make a decision either way.

I know when I was on the Fentanyl patch I didn't get the full effect until I had used 3-4 patches. so 9-12 days.

It sucks but maybe it will be worth it in the end. You would kick yourself if it could have done a lot of good and you just didnt wait long enough right?
Posted 2/27/2013 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Magic,I'm on lyrica and when I first started it I had a feeling like I was always seeing the world thru fogged up glass and every time they tried for an increase it got much worse.

I even felt like my ears were always stopped up and I was listening to things thru a papercup. I did this on cymbalta as well as neurontin but it never went away and they had to be discontinued. The lyrica symptoms subsided although it was gradual.

I've no experience with nucynta but it is a pretty powerful med. I have to agree that living that way to get relief wasn't worth it. Thus the reason I made a really huge decrease in my methadone dose years back. More sometimes is not better.

My kids kept referring to my state as a zombie mode. I would rather have the pain. I cut it in half added the lyrica and started hydrotherapy as well as other things such as stop smoking and eating better,added B12 to my intake and I don't have to be zonked to have lower pain levels.

If it's bothering you this much I would call and talk to the Dr.


Vickie

Post Edited (nvrthesame98) : 2/28/2013 2:38:32 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/27/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
It's all about quality of life with chronic pain. I experienced something similar with one of my psych meds, thorazine. Calmed me down for sure, but couldn't keep food in my mouth while eating. I ran into every door jamb I tried to walk into. Ruined a computer keyboard sitting at it with a lit cigarette and dropping off in the middle of typing something. How I didn't set something on fire, I don't know. And I had to taper off of that one, so I had to put up with diminishing doses for a month.

But I gave it the ol' college try, just way too heavy a med for me. Kept me out of the psych ward, which was where I was heading, and gave me a chance to put things back into perspective again once I got my windows defogged.

But you have to try, and if it's something that has to build up in your system, give it a chance for your body to get used to it, and then the dose can be adjusted. Even then, it may be something you have to taper off of.

Patience, and doctor's orders. Unless you have an allergic reaction to it, of course.
Posted 2/27/2013 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Magic!

I'm a bit surprised that your Dr put you on Lyrica at the same time. The Nucynta also contains a similar type med in it for treating nerve damage. However I have heard of scripting two different nerve meds at the same time, but I don't think we see it very often here.

I have to agree with Vickie, in that I have never gotten over the disconnected feeling with this type of med. I'm curious as to what med he/she will increase as time goes on here for you. The wait can be hard to take when your suffering badly.

I have missed two appointments in the last two weeks due to snow storms, and I have been grinding my teeth trying to get through the pain. However clear skies tomorrow, and my appointment is around noon!smilewinkgrin

Hang in there, but don't wait too long if your not getting any relief at all.

SE
Posted 3/1/2013 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
i take lyrica and nucynta. i've been on lyrica for about a year and it only took me about a week to get used to it. i started nucynta at the beginning of december and the first couple of weeks were pretty rough. i considered going off of it. i couldn't drive on it and i was taking the extended release twice a day so i was on it 24 hours a day. i think around the third week is when i started to feel more comfortable with it. now i don't have any side effects and it has helped me quite a bit. but i'm not very sensitive to most side effects. i have taken norco, valium, klonopin, soma, flexeril, and a few others without really feeling the side effects that most people do.
Posted 3/3/2013 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All -

Well, I still haven't felt any real pain relief. I get more from my heating pad or my TENS unit (as long as I don't move) but I don't think it is really relief, just a different sensation.

Still feeling pretty loopy for most of the day, but that's about it. Screaming Eagle, I really don't know how you function like this day in and day out. Fortunately AND unfortunately, I am not working at the moment - certainly not due to lack of need for $$. We're screwed financially. I am in finance and I cannot see balancing budgets and doing P & L's in this frame of mind. confused

Going to give it a few more days before I call my Dr. What other choice do I have, right?

Hope you all have a better day than the one before!
Posted 3/4/2013 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Good afternoon Magic!

I never would have guessed it,…but my Dr just added Lyrica to my mix of meds as well. So far no big side effects, and not a noticeable reduction in pain either. However the starting dose is low and we may have to increase before giving up on it.

I guess I'm a little different in that I would rather deal with a few side effects than to deal with hard lumbar pain. I work a full time job, and that may be the difference.

Again, give it at least a few weeks, and then make a decision as to weather it is worth it.

SE
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