Lyrica

[Gil Denis]

Hello

I just received a script for this wonder drug with plenty of scary side effects Just wondering if anyone is currently taking this wonder drug and how it is helping and what side effects are you having,
I am scared to even try it 75 mg four times a day

Thanks

Gil

[Maria]

Gil,
While I do not take this drug because I take Neurontin and it works for me I do have friends that are taking Lyrica for neuropathies and are experiencing very satisfactory results. Several persons have previously taken Neurontin and report that the Lyrica does not quite have the same mind goofiness effect. I guess you'd have to give it a try to see for yourself.

In my particular case because Gabapentin (Neurontin) works for me my PM thinks I should just stay on it versus switching to Lyrica however I'd be willing to try this medication if I weren't already getting good results with Gabapentin.

I'd try it and see if it helps..

[mmglobal]

Gil, like Maria, I have taken Neurontin with good results and have never taken Lyrica. My understanding is that they are similar, but Lyrica has a lower side-effect profile FOR MOST PEOPLE. Some people get little benefit and too much side-effect from one, then have great results with others. I think that Lyrica is preferred as the 'newer better' drug. I am always skeptical about the way drug companies really push the new stuff, but most of the surgeons and pain management docs I know prefer starting with Lyrica (then moving to Neurontin only if Lyrica doesn't do the trick.)

I should mention that when I was on Neurontin (2000 - 2002), they were pushing HUGE doses with many people getting up to 3600mg/day or more. I usually took only 900mg (3 x 300mg) and went to 1200mg when things really flared up or when the doc recommended it to help with sleep. I never took the mega-doses that were recommended and the reason that I never ramped up to the high doses is because I did not like the brain fog that many of us get. I called it Morontin. A few times in the years I took it, I stopped because I was frustrated with the side-effects and the fact that I was still in pain. Every time I did that, it taught me how much it was really helping and it was worth it to tolerate the side-effects to get the benefits of the drug.

Good luck... let us know how it goes. All the best,

Mark

[Gil Denis]

Hi All

Hi All
I cant sleep, restless dry mouth ,driving my wife crazy she is at the end
and does not really understand about our spines falling into hell, It is a test of our marriage my son is 10 I am his hero and he is mine, how do I deal with all this stress. No work, no help ,and going into loosing everything, house , car, truck, and our future,?? I am not complaining I just want my family to be happy. being a spiney sucks. if I had cancer we would have help and some financing but this is a issue that they do not understand and OBAMA is clue less to our cause.
Sorry, but this is finally taking its toll on my life and everyone around me I just cant take it anymore
love you all

Gil

[Crystal33]

I know of patients in similar situations who were helped by medical methadone. It can become addictive and require hospitalisation top get off it, though that would be a future problem.

[Maria]

Gil,
I'm one of those that was greatly helped with low dose Methadone. I've not increased my dose in 9 years however I would have to say that between that and the Neurontin the nerve pain I had was obliterated now for quite some time.

I do struggle with the mind fog at times and other times I'm pretty sharp. I would have to say tho that I cannot function with the degree of pain I was enduring and just wanted to be 6 feet under. If not for the combo of ESIs, pain med and Neurontin really making an extreme difference to me re low to no pain I'd of gone off the deep end.

I'm having a rare flare up in the low back tailbone area. It's stinks however I've felt so good for so long that I feel it will pass. Altho I'm irritated that this flare up occured as it feels like a set back however I also feel like I know the spinal ropes now.

There is also Suboxone which is used to actually detox from Methadone however it can be used for pain management and also maintenance type of drug. These meds certainly can induce physiologic dependence which I know I have but it sure does beat that nasty pain.

Good luck!

[dshobbies]

Gil,

Been on both N & L. Found little difference is side effects. Both made me lethargic and took away desires of just about everything. Permanant side effect is skin sensativity to perfumes and something else I can't recall right now.

However, even knowing all this, it provided much needed relief from nerve pain and made my days much easier.

D

[dridobits]

It's interesting...for some people it works well, but for me I couldnt stop eating and I had other side effects. in the end I chose not to take it.

[Maria]

My PM to prescribe it for me to see if my head clears up a bit as I don't want to increase Neurontin for some increased neuropathies that occur I think because I'm weaning from Methadone.

I had a nasty flare up of symptom last month that mostly I've got under control however trying to wean off the pain medication I was advised by my OSS to bump up Neurontin to which I declined because of stupification factor.

I'd like to try Lyrica tho perhaps just as an adjunct with less Neurontin instead of none.

There are many health conditions in which there are 2 drugs of the same classification are utilized to combat symptoms/disease so I'd be happy if even a little addition of Lyrica perhaps could decrease some of the Neurontin fog effects (if there isn't a contradictory reason not to).

Will see if it even gets ordered for me and authorized by WC. It could be doubtful as WC likes to go with cheapest med that works.