Lyrica = Bloat?

I've been taking Lyrica 150mg 3 times a day since around July or so. It has been part of the regimen for fighting pain. I also take Cymbalta, which the doctor had to go to bat for to get me 60mg x2/day; the Cymbalta is an anti-depressant, but works on top of Lyrica to enhance its neuropathy-fighting ability.

For the last month to 6 weeks I have been bloating up like you wouldn't believe. I've gained nearly 30 lbs in that timeframe.

Today, my podiatrist looks at my records and shows concern. My labs over the last year show a tendency toward Chronic Kidney Something, the next step of which is Kidney Failure.

Has anyone heard of such? If anyone here has information I would dearly love to hear it. My podiatrist thinks that I may have to drop the Lyrica - which kinda concerns me since it has been an important ingredient in the pain control regimen I'm on. But kidney failure scares me more.

Thanks, Jim.

Is Lexapro a mild anti-depressant? If so, it may help Lyrica. I currently take Cymbalta, because it rides on top of Lyrica and is supposed to enhance its pain killing capabilities. At one point I was put on Amitriptylin (sp?) for the same reason. But it sent me to the moon and back several times per pill, and was working on Mars before they would take me off of it. (It DID help kill the pain, though.)

Tony,
Yes, lexapro is an anti-depressant; it is actually the longer acting version of celexa. But I don't know if it's chemically similar to cymbalta; I think the closest to cymbalta might be effexor. Anyway, it doesn't sound like cymbalta is the problem for you anyway.

I'm not sure I'd like my podiatrist adjust my pain meds (if I had a podiatrist!) although it sounds like it's definitely worthy of follow-up with your pm to see if it is the lyrica. So much can go wrong with these bodies of ours! I'm leery of going to a GI specialist tomorrow, because I don't want to be told I can't take certain pain meds. But I want to get things checked before my insurance runs out.

Coldgold - welcome to the chronic pain forum! We're not doctors here, but are great for support. From what I know (and my experience) that's a very low starter dose of lyrica. Both times when doctors have tried it on me, they've kept the dose too lose (as my neurologist later told me) so I never got any relief. I'm still on neurontin. But usually doctors start us on the lowest dose of a med. and then ease up. Let your doctor know if it's not helping, although they may want to see how your injection goes.

If you want, start a new thread and introduce yourself to the group!

PaLady

Thanks all.

PAlady - my podiatrist wasn't adjusting. She just noticed some thing that might explain my bloating, which concerned her a lot and which affected her area (feet) since my feet are wildly bloated as well. And yes, she specifically asked me to broach the subject with him.

Coldgold,
Remember everyone reacts differently to medications, so try not to let how other people are being affected get in the way of your possibly getting pain relief. I think you need to give lyrica a good trial, and from what I remember reading on the lyrica website therapeutic doses generally range from 300-600mg/day. Actually, the starter dose I've had has been 150mg/day, and that didn't do a thing for me.

Sounds like you maybe use a TENS unit or something similar? I have one, too. It's fun to get all hooked up when you have to do it all yourself! LOL

PaLady