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anyone on LYRICA (pregabalin)

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Posted 9/26/2014 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi im usually on the RA site but thought you guys might know a bit more about this drug
is anyone on LYRICA (pregabalin) ?
im worried to try new medications as I often have reactions
any info would be appreciated please
Posted 9/26/2014 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
I tried Lyrica but, couldn't take it because it made me so "stoned", I didn't know who I was and refuse to take any medication that has that affect on me.

I've seen other posts where others are taking it and it doesn't have that affect on them and hope it won't have that affect on you.

Brenda

Posted 9/26/2014 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Lyrica for I believe a couple years. You are gradually put on it and work up to a full dose. I did get up to that. This medication did not cause me too many side effects that were terribly bothersome. It is used to take pain out of nerves. It is used for people after bouts of shingles who can have nerve pain after. I always have trouble on windy days and with Lyrica I could feel that my nerves were a buzz. Not painful but I can feel my nerves.

It did not make me feel "stoned". The only med that did that to me was Oxycontin. I read so much online and I did notice one comment that many of these types of meds can cause long term nerve damage. I asked my Doctor, he did not think it would. What ended up getting me off Lyrica was weight gain and I am still having little success in getting my weight down.

If you go on the med, the Doctor will take you off slowly, if necessary. I had some withdrawal symptoms like chills and itch. I will tell you that you don't know that something was helping until you come off of it. I was taking combinations of meds at the time - Omeprazole, Naproxen, Baclofen and Lyrica. I was also taking 1 eight hour Arthritis Tylenol a day. I was having a hard time coping when finally off. I also began to get nerve spasms and restless legs at night. I really don't know if Lyrica was masking them. I never had them before but I do have nerve damage. I am now on Nortriptyline and a welcome response is the nerve spasms and restless legs have stopped.

None of all the meds I took while on Lyrica stopped all of my pain but it stopped some of the pain. It was expensive, not sure if it still is.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...
Posted 9/27/2014 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi BadDay,

I know it's very similar to Gabapentin (my doctor says it's essentially the same), which I've been taking for 2 & 1/2 years now. I take it for Sciatic pain, but I'm sure it's helping my general legs and feet pain, too, because when I miss a dose, ouch!

I do think it's probably added to my spaciness, but it's worth it to me. I believe I may have some extra swelling in my lower eyelids and in my calves from it, or maybe I'm just getting old :)

When I tried actual Lyrica a few years earlier, l noticed the swelling in my eyelids more...but every body is unique. It sure hasn't made me gain weight...I wish it would!

Good luck with it.

Debbie
Posted 9/27/2014 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Thanks so much for the replies
thanks Brenda and thanks Debbie good to see its working for you, I actually have had a bit of brain fog lately so if I got more id probably not know what day it was idea

im currently on what I consider a lot of medications but as you said Loring none stop the pain , I have;
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Heart problems (svt & right side damage), Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Constant Disc Ruptures which trap nerves. I get constant things like tennis elbow or ac joint & ligament tears neuralgia and feeling of ants crawling on face or legs.

the current issue he wants me to take the Lyrica is my L4/5 lower back I have another disc rupture and its hitting the nerve (luckily this time not a complete crush) and im getting pain down the side of my leg and its made me fall over 3 times now and my feet feel like im walking on broken glass, this has been going on for a few months now and getting worse
and I did read the info on the Lyrica web site and that scared me the suicidal thoughts & depression were the scariest as I don't want to feel worse than I do now also it said it can cause hand swelling which is bad for heart people, I don't know maybe I'm just being paranoid its just ive had some very bad reactions to some of the RA drugs and im so sore and tired I really don't want to fight another issue, ah but then the other side is if this drug works it might ease my pain
Posted 9/27/2014 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi BadDay,

I am currently on Lyrica 150 mg 2 times a day ( morning and night) it had really helped w my pain. I had started that w exercise at the same time, do yo be honest I don't know if it was a combination of them both. I'm, unfortunately, since them have stopped exercising. Which is not a good thing because that does help w the pain.
I have definitely gained weight, but I it is not all because of the Lyrica. Most of it is lack of exercise and my late night icecream and junk food eating..

I think it is worth trying. I have never had any suicidal thoughts or depression.
My Qdr did say to me it is not a medication that will cause you to gain weight, but what u put in your mouth. It may have slowed mt metabolism, I don't really know....I have to stop eating bad and exercising than I may have a better idea
Posted 9/29/2014 8:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thank You all for your replies it gave me the courage to start taking them this morning
Posted 9/29/2014 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
I did terribly on Lyrica. I didn't make it 3 days, as I couldn't really get out of bed on it. I felt like I was extremely drunk / high. Just lifting my head off the bed made my room spin and I basically had to crawl through the house when I did leave the bed.
Posted 9/29/2014 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Keep us posted on how you do on it.  I'm curious if you get that "stoned/drunk" feeling as myself and CountingMySpoons did.

Also, Loring stated she was 'gradually" worked up to full dose and that wasn't case with me, they went full bore right away and that could be all the difference.

Good Luck, I hope it helps you get some relief!

Brenda

 

Posted 9/29/2014 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
PLEASE DON"T TAKE LYRICA!

When I first took it, it made me happy because after 15 years I was able to turn my neck! 10 days and no weight gain. I thought I was one of the lucky ones. I gained 30 pounds in the following 5 weeks.

The WORST part is that it gave me invasive thoughts of suicide. Marie Osmond's son had just committed suicide. He had said he just wanted some peace and I felt terrible for him, Marie and their family and friends, but just the same I thought; "That makes sense."

It was very scary! I called the suicide hotline. The guy on the phone was extremely rude. I called a cousin out of town and she wouldn't return my call which made me feel even worse. My mother's friend wouldn't return my call either.

G-d helped me. I stopped Lyrica because of the weight gain. It took me a year to take off the weight. Several months later I found out that Lyrica often causes suicidal thoughts. If you think it would never happen to you ... keep thinking that but DON'T TRY LYRICA!!!

Good luck!

I take nothing and lie down when I'm in pain. after severe stomach problems and other side affects from meds I found it better to bare knuckle it. It's been 22 years of Hell!!
Posted 9/30/2014 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
BadDay, I hope your day was good. How are you feeling by now?


BCBri, hi and welcome to the forum. It would be a good idea to start your own thread, giving it a title indicating that you're a newbie, and telling us a little about yourself. (You'd get more responses that way, because more people would notice your post.)

You have to remember that what works for one won't necessarily work for another, and just because you had an awful reaction to Lyrica, that doesn't mean it's across-the-board bad. There are so many ways of coping with Fibro.

Debbie
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