Lyrica- Has anybody had positive results?

I know there are plenty of negative vibes surrounding Lyrica and even I refused to take it. But I still have the RX and I'm on the verge of filling it. I'm just really scared but I also hurt so bad that I think my years of ignoring it (again) are over.

Have ANY of you had any positive results? Anything good to say at all? I know about the weight gain and any and all side effects, I just want to know about your pain levels-were they helped?

I knew there was a thread here on Lyrica at one time but I can't seem to find it.

Thank you. I like your screen name- I read it and though "aren't we all" LOL If Lyrica is like neurotin, I'm hosed because I don't tolerate that either. We'll see. My hubby is shocked I'm even contemplating taking it but I tell you- my pain is becoming intolerable lately.

Hi Fucia,
I was taking Lyrica and it was starting to help the pain in my feet but I had to switch to Cymbalta due to an insurance change but I too take Neurontin for pain in my legs and tolerate that well.

Good luck to you.

Hi Fuscia - Although my experience with Lyrica was not good, I think we are all so different, with so many different reactions to the different treatments, that you can't go by whether someone else has had positive or negative experiences with a medication. For example, I felt like I was wide awake and alert on Lyrica - like I was on a caffeine high. I couldn't sleep at night, wasn't at all drowsy like the "scare sheets" said it was going to make me, and it didn't do anything for the pain. It contributed to the fibro fog and after two weeks of it, I weaned off. But other posters here did not have those reactions and say they did well on it. So you can't really go by what others experience because we are all so different. You might find that Lyrica actually works well for you, but you won't know until you try - even for a few days or at least a week.

I just went thru a similar experience on gabapentin and found it did almost the same as the Lyrica - yet others on this forum are fine with it. I think you just have to bite the bullet and give it a try for yourself. Read the "scare sheets" (those med advisor sheets that come with the drug from the pharmacy) carefully, and like TiredArtist mentioned, be sure to try the medication when there is someone at home with you.

I've also learned (from trial and error and many $$$ down the drain), to have the pharmacy fill only 10 days' worth of the prescription, to make sure it works first. Forgot to do that with the gabapentin, though, so hubby came home with a 30 day supply and almost of all of it had to be discarded :(

I wish you well, Fuscia - hope you find it works for you :)

blessings and peace

I've ignorantly been taking Lyrica for the last... I think 3 years. I had also been taking Topamax for chronic migraine, but two years ago I had to go off due to severe memory issues and the hair loss becoming VERY obvious. I then proceeded to put the 70 pounds I had gotten off back on over the last two years.

Lyrica helps with the burning pain on my arms and elsewhere. It basiclly numbs it a bit. I have no idea if my fog or need to search for words when in conversation are a side effect, but if so I think I need to change meds!!!

I tried Lyrica and I found my self to be very sleepy and very slow and low on energy. Doctors were slowly trying to get me to the 300Mg a day.

I have been on Lyrica for about two weeks now, and I can report some very positive changes. Before, there were nights I was in so much pain that my back couldn't even touch the bed. Now, even if I do experience some pain at night, I will fall asleep and stay asleep through the whole night (a HUGE improvement). Because of this, I am more energized and have less pain and stiffness in the morning. However, I have noticed that if I get as high as 450 mg in a day, I get very sleepy and can't concentrate. I am going to try to stay around 300 mg for a while and see how that helps.

just an update- i hung up with pfizer after 15min because they would not answer my question. i kept being transferred and being asked to answer survey questions. I have called my dr but of course they're at lunch. *sigh* And this si why I hate meds.

I have a small update on my Lyrica experience. At first it was really helping,but after a while that faded. I thought well my dr will increase the dose and I'll feel pretty normal again and get my life back! So he increased the dose about 4 days ago and this time things are not going at all how I hoped. I've had constant bloody noses and headaches. I think my pupils were too small this morning too. I'm so dissapointed. There are other things that could be causing the headache as I have bad allergies and a cyst on my brain,but I've had one for two straight days now which is uncommon for me. I'm hoping it will stop soon and work like it did before,but if I feel this bad tomorrow I'm going to call the dr.

I have had a similar experience as RedDiane. I have gained a little weight (which has forced me to monitor my eating/exercise more), but the Lyrica helps me sleep like a dream. It hasn't helped with the main muscular pain, but without all the sleep deprivation and achiness in the morning, it's much easier to manage day to day.

All right, I thought about my post later and realized my brain had completely scrambled the information.
The insensitive behavior was always due to AMBIEN and not Lyrica.
Lyrica just causes the sensitivity easy crying.
Sorry for any confusion, everyone.
Cognitive has not been the best lately.

I've been taking Lyrica for about six months. I have gained maybe three or so pounds? I've also been incredibly stress eating, so I'm pretty sure it's the cheeseburgers, ha.

I have had no other bad side effects at all. Actually, I was taking Gabapentin (Neurontin, right?) and ending up hallucinating on that. I also had incredibly awful mood swings - crying, screaming, depressed, out of no where, mood swings. I have been absolutely fine on Lyrica. I'm not drowsy, a little tired, but that comes with the territory. It's truly helped with my pain management. In the past six months, I had one flare up, and that was after a colonoscopy (crohn's disease, too) and anesthesia.

In all honesty, I like Lyrica better than any other drug I've taken for fibro. Don't just buy into what people say - you have to find the solution that is best for YOU. We're all so different and have different brains that respond in different ways to medicine. Work with your doctor and try it, and you'll be ok.

Well it turns out I had to come off the Lyrica due to an allergic reaction four days after starting it. He switched me to Cymbalta however he requested I wait to to have a cardiac workup completed. Today I back and let him know that I'm still waiting for my cardiac results (2 more weeks) however I wasn't comfortable taking Cymbalta nor was I 10years ago so we're trying Gabapentin and Flexeril (also known as Cyclobenzaprine). We'll see how it goes. I feel blessed that for the first time in 10+ years I have a Rheumy who actually listens to me/my concerns and doesn't dismiss me.

To "weather" I didn't take you as being rude, but thank you though. I'm not new to Fibro or Lupus or my DDD or anything else. I've had these for well over 10years now...the Lyrica however was new...it just turns out it didn't work nor did the Sevella. In those 10 years I, at one time, weaned off of everything thanks to acupuncture, for several years. It just doesn't work for me anymore so we're on to the drugs again; I'm just hoping not to be on 17 a day like I was years ago. :)