HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fibro medication ~ opinions, please

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/17/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
would like some opinons........currantly on lyrica 150 x2 a day and cymbalta 2 tabs a day........also adderall x 2 a day to help with the lyrica side effects. i am seriously thinking about titrating my lyrica down to nothing to see if this constant fatigue and slurred speech and thought will clear up. i think most of it is caused by the lyrica. maybe i can go on a pain patch or something similar...........[take percocet now] am hoping i can stop the adderall if these symptoms go away. please..........any thoughts on this???????????thanks ahead of time......nice to know yall are here!!!

(I added a title to your post. You will get a lot more people reading and answering it that way)

Post Edited By Moderator (Chutz) : 8/16/2009 8:11:43 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/17/2009 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Ok first of all how much of each are you on? How long has it been? Have you spoken to your doctor about your concerns? Don't do anything without first touching base with your doc. Some meds like Cymbalta require a certain way of tapering and can be terrible if not stopped correctly. Take it from someone who learned early on, although they aren't perfect, doctor's do know things that we don't. And though the decision is ultimately yours don't discount their input. I am on Cymbalta and Neurontin (once and twice a day respectively) and the side effects are bad- I won't lie. But I have only been on the Neurontin for 6 weeks and the Cymbalta for 3 weeks. And I have some experience with medications in the past as well. It sometimes takes 2 months for the side effects to go away and even longer to feel the full benefits of the meds. I am also on Vicodin. The thing is, is that the awful meds may be a long term solution while pain relievers will mostly lose potentcy and force you to switch from one to the next and that can be harder on you in the long run. Its your decision but I hope that in some small way my opinion will help.
Posted 8/17/2009 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
thanks chutz for adding the title! trish, i have been on the lyrica for over 1 1/2 years. was on 225 2x day but was just too spacy. been on the 150 2x day for about 7 months. i do not intend on going off the cymbalta at all. i just dont like having to take another med [the adderall] to counter act the lyrica. the adderall does help a lot with the extra fatigue the lyrica adds,,,plus my thinking is much clearer. plus i wonder about the long term effects of the lyrica...im not sure its been on the market enuff to have that decided. i dont know what ill decide..and yes, i will probably run this all by the dr. although sometimes i  dont think they really give a rats behind!!!!anyhow, thanks for your opinion.. i appreciate it.

helen [evolving]

Posted 8/17/2009 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Helen

Good luck with finding the right med combo. My rheumy is forever changing mine.
I wonder how much our metabolism is changed everytime we switch to a new med.
My weight sure loves to yo-yo.

My body couldn't handle the cymbalta, so I am on savella 50mg 2x daily. I have cut back on
my muscle relaxant (Flexeril) since I've started the savella. I am also on Methotrexate
which is a immunosuppresant I take for autoimmune issues.

I was on Vicodin for six months. It sounds crazy but I feel better since I stopped it.
I too wonder about the long term side effects of all the medication, but really what are
our options. I do relaxation therapy daily and excercise when I can.

Good luck to you. Hope your doctor is helpful !!!

Robin
Posted 8/17/2009 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Helen,

Your thoughts on cutting back or stopping all together sound very familiar. Thought I would do that myself a few months back. I was up to 1200 mg of Gabapentin a day and wanted to see if I would be more like myself again if I cut way back or stop all together. I got all the way down to 300mg every other day about 3 months ago. But that didn't help my facial pain that kept getting worse. My last check up with my internist dx me with atypical trigeminal neuralgia and guess what the main med to control symptoms is Gabapentin, oops. I started back up at 300mg once a day again and its helped but as far as just stopping it for FM, I only noticed I have a little more energy, but that could be part to my vit D intake. The pain of FM has not changed though.

Just a note..I take my gabapentin and Pristiq at night only, cuz they do make me tired. I am never good at taking anything during the day if I don't REALLY have to. The only pain med that doesn't take me for a loop is Ultracet. I sometimes take Percocet as well, but it doesn't do me well to concetrate at work. It really helps when my pain level is just to high.

Like the posts b/4 mine.....please take it slow cutting back and consult with your doc. I had a real bad reaction just stopping my anti-depressant upbruptly(sp?). Thought my head was bouncing around in my head when I was laying still. Creepiest thing I ever felt! Then it just felt like vertigo whenever I moved.

Good Luck,
Take Care,
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply