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Lyrica - as a PRN?

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Posted 6/15/2014 6:27 AM (GMT 0)
I am getting close to breaking down and getting on a pain med - but I really don't want one that I have to take every day...I'd like one to take once in a while to break the pain cycle. Just to give me relief and allow me to do something enjoyable - like go to dinner and a movie...but my doc says Gabapentin and Lyrica can't be taken as needed - that they need to be taken daily and work once they're in your system. But I have heard from some people that they do work right away.
I also think that pain 24/7 wears you down...and that's not good either. I also wonder if the CNS can get into a "pain mode" and just keep firing those signals...but maybe if you break that cycle....?

I don't want to take opiates - and I found several months back that they weren't working on the nerve pain anyway.
Posted 6/15/2014 9:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Girlie,

I was on the point of breaking down because of those never ending intnese pains everywhere in my body. I had told my dr, went to see a neurologist. Tried opioids, lyrica, but they did nothing for the pain. My llmd says it is not exceptional for lyme patients that pain medication doesn't help. I had to take 300mg of lyrica per day, which didn't help and turned me into a zombie.

Then I saw my dr again and told him I couldn't go on like this. He suggested I tried LDN or Low Dose Naltrexone.
I got immediate response on the myalgia, the localized pains didn't get better at first. I'm on it for 5 weeks now and I'm slowly seeing a decrease in my other pains.
I have to add though that it doesn't work that fast for everyone, but you could give it a try?

Marie
Posted 6/15/2014 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mariel - Several months ago i tried LDN - before I was even suspecting Lyme disease.
I started with .5 mg, then 1 mg and got up to 3 mg. over a 5 or 6 week period.
It actually seemed to make my pain worse.

I read that LDN increases immune function, as well as causing the body to release more endorphins at night.
I'm wondering now if the increase in pain was a herx - maybe it was actually killing the lyme, and i was herxing?
Posted 6/16/2014 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
You can't use Lyrica as a PRN, because it has to build up in the bloodstream before it's effective for pain.

Margaret
Posted 6/16/2014 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Well that sucks, doesn't it? So, if i want relief once in a while from the pain...I gotta get all drugged up...hmm...I guess i'll tough it out...and hope that I start to feel better soon.
Posted 6/16/2014 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie,
Several people warned me that I could start to feel worse because of the immunity boost.
My pain is better on most days, but I'm definetely more tired. I think it is caused by ldn. i'll sit it out though, hoping it'll help me in the long run.
M
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