Lyrica vs. Vicodin ES

Hi Everyone,

As I have mentioned in a past post, my family doc told me to stop taking Vicodin, and prescribed Lyrica for me.  (He is completely against narcotics unless it is for surgery or the elderly).  I have been taking it (Lyrica) for 3 days and am soooo tired.  It is 50mg. twice daily.  I know Vicodin is not supposed to be for prolonged use, but I've read here that many people take it.  I had such energy with Vicodin, no tiredness until late evening (just when you're supposed to be tired!)  :)  I felt like I had a life again! 

Anyhow, I think I'm going to another doctor to try and get a second opinion about meds.  Should I ask if I could take Vicodin with the Lyrica?  Lyrica is really helping with the pain, but just making me so mellow, I don't feel like doing anything. 

I'm getting so discouraged. 

Help,

DonniesGirl

Hey
I can't imagine going to any doctor and saying you want Vicodin is a good idea. I'm from canada so I'm not sure if all the same meds. are available everywhere but I take a narco. called tramacet. .... look it up it's very similar to vicodin but non habit forming.

Take Care

I must take Vicodin AND Lyrica. The Vicodin lets me be functionable.I do not have just FM though. The Lyrica I take for sciatica,not FM.The Vicodin helps my FM and my arthritis. I take 150 mgs. of Lyrica 3 times a day,works like a charm for my back/leg/butt pain. Vicodin has always been the only drug that has helped my FM.

The fatigue from the Lyrica may improve over the next few weeks. A friend was barely able to get out of bed the first week but she slowly gained more energy.

Have you tried tramadol (Ultram)? Since its considered non-narcotic, docs are more likely to prescribe it.

Hi, Donniesgirl,

It's strange how different bodies are affected by different meds. What's so great about this forum is that we can get perspective from reading eachothers' experiences.

I've been on Hydrocodone (generic Norco, or Vicodin + acetominophen) since January of last year, when a disc in my lower spine ruptured. My dose is way down now, but it does still really help. I never dreamed I would take it this long - but life threw me a big old curve ball.

I've also been on Gabapentin (essentially, generic Lyrica) for nerve pain for almost that long. My doctor says that's the one I'll stop last.

I am somewhat more spacey than before, but then again, I was born spacey :) ...and I'm functional. Without these meds, I can't imagine that I would be.

Before my rupture, I was on 1/2 a Tramadol a day for pain, and that's it. I would LOVE (and hope) to get by with only that!

My personal viewpoint is that pain meds can help you have a better quality of life, if your pain is so bad that all your energy is going towards fighting it. Of course, they should be minimized, and there are contraindications....

Good luck! Doctors do vary widely as far as whether they are open to prescribing pain meds. Some are afraid to ever do it, while others pass them out too freely, like they're candy. I hope you'll find one who is intelligent about it.

Debbie

Oh, wow!    I told you I was a born spacehead!    Thanks for the heads-up, Snowbunny.

Kinda wondered why there were so many names I didn't recognize.

I often don't take in dates, when they're shown in numbers....numbers and I are not simpatico!

Debbie