lyrica

Hi, I had intense burning pain in my low back and between my shoulder blades, I started on Lyrica about 6 weeks ago. It has stopped the burning pain which I was told was caused by inflamed nerves. It definitely helped the nerve pain. I am taking 300mg a day. Unfortunately, it has not helped with the achy muscles in my back. I think it is really worth a try, as it was made to treat neuropathy. Hope this helps you! By the way I had to start on a low dose and work up to the higher one I am taking now. It will probably take a few weeks for you to notice it's full effect.

Hope

Also I saw one of the side effects could be weight gain, I hope this doesn't happen.

Hi mmllr.  I have RA, OA and Fibro (along with a basket of other goodies, but those pertain to this conversation!).  I have been on Lyrica now since June, and will give you my take on it.  The first day I took it, oh lordie, I was higher than a kite.  My kids came home from school and laughed at me silly.  My eyes were glazed over, I was walking like I was tipsy (I don't drink very often, so this was new to them to see me like this) and I could not stand at the stove (safely) to make dinner.  DH came home and laughed uncontrollable as well.  I slept that night like I have not ever slept before, it was wonderful.  Oh, and the first time I took it I had about an hour of nausea, very mild though.  The 2nd day, I knew better, I took my pill after dinner, in the evening.  Slept sooo well again.  Hmmm....my fibro seems to be feeling better, as does my arthritis.  Perfect.  The next morning I could hardly get out of bed, so I needed to tweak my timing of consuming my little pill a tad.  I was only taking one little pill at about 4:30-5:30pm, and about two months into it the effects seemed to wane a bit, so I upped it to two pills late afternoon/early evening.  I am prescribed 4 per day, so I am sure at two per day, still only half way there.  So now I take two pills around 5:00ish, the nausea left after the first day, I sleep wonderfully, and my pain for both Fibro and arthritis is so much better.  It is so much better, that I actually just got a job, after being home to raise my two girls (now 16.5 and 18.5 yrs old) and being in so much pain, I am going back to work part time for my chiro!  I feel that good that I am confident I can return to work now!  What a great feeling that is.

This weight gain issue is a very sensitive issue with me, and I will try to behave.  I am severely underweight, and I had heard that Lyrica can cause weight gain.  I was delighted, so I asked my rheumy what were my odds that it would help me gain weight.  He told me the percentage is 10%!  Not very good odds at all.  I get royally ticked when I hear people blaming this pill for weight gain, as I personally don't believe it.  A pill is not going to help you lose weight, nor is it going to help you gain weight, it is what you choose to put in your mouth that is going to cause you to gain weight!  I have not gained an ounce while on it, unfortunately, but to me, if you begin on a new pill and you have heard it can cause weight gain, and you don't want to gain weight, then be on your toes, watch what you consume more carefully and don't use a little pill as an excuse! 

Let me know how you make out on it, I for one love it and am back to exercising, long walks daily, and even heading back to the office!

I forgot to tell you, that every day the tipsyness, loopiness, next-day-hangover feeling get better. They really do wear off each day you take it. Do what I said, if you can. Try to take your Lyrica earlier, say dinner time and then you should be okay in the morning. Like I said, I take my around 4:30-5:30 and I wake up at 6:45 every morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed, no hangover anymore for me, just pain free and wonderful sleeps each night!