HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lyrica

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/8/2011 8:08 PM (GMT 0)


Hello, its been a while since I have posted. I have just gone off Methadone after using it since 2006 for a back surgery that I have 2 rods and 6 screws and pain pain pain. I think I have tried just about every drug out there. However, after coming off Methadone my pain is increased greatly. I went to my pain doc and she put me on Lyrica and Oxy IR 5 mg. Well, taking both together was like putting me in a coma. Taking just the Lyrica has really helped with the nerve pain in legs and arms, but all I do is sleep. I have read a lot of posts that say it causes weight gain and I hope that is not true because I am overweight for my height now.

Can anyone tell me if this extreme fatigue goes away after some use.

Twinks
L4,L5,SI Fusion, Fibromyaliga (sp)
Posted 6/9/2011 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, I can't help you with your current situation. I just wanted you to know that I am thinking about you, and I'm so sorry for the pain and fatigue your going through..I hope you can find some sort of a solution quickly...
Posted 6/9/2011 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I was unable to adjust to the Lyrica when I tried it. The first few days I felt like a walking zombie. Eyes half open, running into things, forgetting what I was talking ,etc... There was no way I could drive or even try to work at that point. I was told that my body would adjust to this and the side effects would die down. Unfortuentely, I couldnt take a month off of work to let things calm down so I had to stop it.

Did your doctor mention anything about the side effects?
Posted 6/9/2011 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Twinks. I just started Lyrica myself about three weeks ago. My doctor said it can take about 6 weeks for the medication to take full effect, and I've taken that to mean it could take that long for my body to fully adjust to the side effects as well. So I'm about halfway to adjusted I'm guessing (and hoping).

I don't have much experience with pain medications. The only other one I tried was Nortriptyline and I got taken off of that one after only two doses because of a strong reaction. So I don't have much to compare Lyrica against as far as side effects go. But here's what I know...

I'm also on the heavy side of where I should be and so was worried about the weight gain. But from what I've read and talked to my doctor about, Lyrica doesn't directly cause you to gain weight. It can and often does cause people to have a strongly increased appetite and this often leads to weight gain. Personally, I find I have a harder time losing weight but I have not put on any weight since starting and have been losing the pounds just more slowly. I think part of this is that I am now able to increase my activity levels over where I was without it. I think that increased ability to be active needs to be balanced into the equation and that careful planning can mitigate this side effect of the medication.

As far as the fatigue goes, for me it has gotten better. What I found was that the first week was the worst. By the end of the first week the fatigue was coming in waves. And from there the waves have become very slowly less frequent and they don't dip as low. I'm hoping that trend will continue. The waves of fatigue are very annoying as they don't come on any schedule I've been able to figure out and not being able to control randomly conking out is embarrassing to say the least. I have found that the waves can be counteracted with caffeine, although I'm not sure if that is technically a good idea or not. I've personally been trying to work a little tea into my day where needed as I don't want to be guzzling down sodas.

I also had a similar experience to your's when combining meds at the beginning, Twinks. I found that if I took my hydrocodone I would be asleep the entire time it was effective for. And once I had taken it, there was nothing I could do to stop it. That has actually improved quite a bit for me as well. The combination definitely makes me tired, but I can effectively use the two together when needed.

I hope I've been of at least some help, although I'm not any kind of expert. It's a good question though, I'd be interested to hear what some others have experienced who have been on Lyrica longer.

I hope you start feeling better quickly and I'm glad the Lyrica is at least providing you some relief.

-Jeff
Posted 6/9/2011 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
 

         Morning Twinks!

               I did a quick search here on the forum, and found several articles on this. Here is just one for you to look through. Be sure and do you're own search....I think you find quite a bit on this.

            https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=1200783

           

         Good luck!

             SE wink

Posted 6/9/2011 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I do pray this gets better for you...that is a horrible feeling to be 'sleepy' due to meds. I cannot take Lyrica, I need it, but, I cant take it. It made me 'swell'. I would not say a weight gain, I have heard that, but, my hands, feet, ankles, and face were extremely puffy due to the medication. It was not good. It helped with the nerve pain, but, it wasnt worth it. Are you having any swelling, or just the sleepiness?

Again, I pray that you get some relief.
Posted 6/9/2011 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for all the info. I went back to bed this am waiting a day and a half for the pain doc to call and she did while I was in bed and my husband caught the call and told her to call back, now I have to wait again.

If I could get rid of this tiredness I would be so happy. Lyrica does stop the tremendous burning searing pain all over my legs, back, and arms and now I am feeling it even across my abdomen. I will post again just as soon as I hear from her to see what she says about the sleepiness.

L4, L5, Si,. failed fusion, fibro, extremely sensitive to apin.

God Bless all of you
Posted 6/9/2011 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Twinks,I must congradulate you getting off methadone! I hope the new pain meds will be enough,has for lyrica ,I tryed taking it afew months ago,but side affects proved to be too much,Iwas told it takes a while but affects would go away,its suppose to be the best on the market?Iguess it works well for some.I wish it would of worked for me.I hope the fatigue goes away!I find the fresh air and short walk outside helps me with the fatigue. take care
Posted 6/10/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Well I got off the Lyrica. I could not take being comatose all day with the responsibilities of my husband, my grown son and his 12 year old autistic daughter living with us. I took my first dose of Neurontin last night and it worked well. It kept me pain free until about 10 am at which time I had to hit my pain meds, Norco, Oxy to get relief. I pray this is the answer.

I am feeling mentally so much better since I am off the methadone. I have been in a deep deep depression for a year and a half and had no idea it was methadone.

How does Neurontin work for any of you that takes it. I took it before my back surgery and it made me a little stupid in that I couldn't get names of things I wanted to say out of my mouth, but I will put up with that any day now if it takes the pain down.

Twinks,
L4,L5,SI Failed Fusion
Extensive Nerve Damage to all nerves and total numbness in right foot.
Fibromyaliga (not sure on the spelling)
Posted 6/11/2011 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on a low dose of Lyrica for about three weeks. 2 days ago I upped it to 100mgs a day. It is really helping me with the burning and some of the other pain. I am soon going up to 150mgs a day. I think the trick with Lyrica is to start low, because, honestly, it can work well without being pushed up to the common 300mgs, or even more level. I have felta bit tired here and there, but that is really all. So far so good. Who knows how long it will be a good thing, but I guess ya' just gotta' take it when you can, and enjoy!!!

Chris
Posted 6/11/2011 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
My mother takes lyrica for fibromyalgia. I don't know if it really help that much, but I can tell when visiting that she's physically drained. I've often wondered if the medication is doing that to her.
Posted 6/11/2011 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Twinks, Desert has given you some very good info about Lyrica. Lyrica, Cymbalta and Neurotin are three meds used widely for nerve pain. Regular pain medication has very little effect on nerve pain. However, these meds work much better when started at a low dose and gradually titrating the dose upwards. Many times when we start on two or more medications at the same time we get the side effects you are dealing with and usually over time this gets better. I think when starting two meds new, its best to take them at different times rather than together that way if something comes up you know which one is the culprit.

I hope you can get some relief and get past the side effects. Take care.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply