Need Info on Lyrica??

[Breezy]

My Neurologist just started me on 50 mg of Lyrica at night for 1 week,then he wants me to up the dose to 50 mg at night for one week. In the information package I got from the pharmacy it sounds like there are alot of side affects from this medication?? I was also reading other thread's,and it seems like this is a very low dose?? I would like to hear alot of input good and bad regarding this medication. Always Breezy... ;)

[rainbow422@aol.com]

I am on Lyrica, and I have a few links I can forward you. They started me out on 50 1x a day then built me up to twice a day now I am on 75 teice a day. The side effects have not been bad for me, others who have had reactions have. I cannot live without it because the pain is unbearable. Crying in hysterics and such. My bones feel like they are exploding. With it, I can at least work myself to getting out of bed and coping with it a little.

I cannot remember if I can post links in here. If you want I will, if it is allowed.

Then you can do a little reading.

BTW, the side effects are when they change a dose for me. They only last a few days and then go away. Light sensitivity in eyes, and really tired (like we are never not with CRPS) LOL

Rain :)

[mbrfz]

Just a caution, if you drive. My husband is an excellent driver. When he started Lyrica he almost had 4 major accidents the first week. Pulling out in front of cars- just totally spaced. It was terrifing. this spaced out , fog, left but it took almost a month. Be very careful if you drive. Take care, mbrfz

[A.K.]

Lyrica was one of the most helpful things I have taken for my pain and I can't tell you how upset I was when I finally was forced to stop taking it because of the intestinal issues it caused me. For me it was constipation like nothing else has ever been - narcotics, seizure meds...nothing could compare and no matter what we did (doc & I) it just got no better until I stopped it all together.

Makes me sad now thinking about it and I really hope this won't be the case for you. I suggest asking your doc about starting a stool softner with it now if you are not already on one...especially if you see any signs of constipation.

May it work for you! A.K.

[Breezy]

Well I have now been on Lyrica for 1 week,although I know that this is not a long time,I still need more input from those who are taking this Rx?? I really have not noticed any changes yet,however my vision has been blurry in the AM,that last's for about 1hour. I also feel like I have been retaining water?? Yes,I am also constipated!!.I am only on 50 mg at night,and will increase my dose to 50 mg in the am next week. My main concern is at this dose,is it a very low dose?? I read a thread on here somwhere,that someone was taking 650 mg?? Plase any feedback will kindly be taken into concern. Always Breezy

[vanden]

Hi,

I have been taking Lyrica for about a yr. now. Can't remember what I started at - maybe 50 or 75 mg. 3x/day. Then 100 mg. 3/day. However, I have had daily migraines that only topamax helped so I had to continue that (a lyrica cousin) and went to 100 Lyrica 2/day and 100 topamax 1/day.

Side effects - I thought it made me gain weight & my pain mgmt. dr's nurse said she had heard the same complaint from others. Also, some spaciness and forgetfulness.

Then my neuro told me to take the 2 100s of Lyrica both at the same time in the a.m. and that seemed to help even more with the pain. They said I could go up to as much as 600 mg. of it per day. But so far I just take that 200 in the a.m. and maybe another 100 in the afternoon and the 100 of the topamax at night.

Good luck. I have a question for people about leg twitches as this disease progresses. They don't really hurt. Is this part of RSD or something else?

Thanks,

Nina

[rainbow422@aol.com]

50 mg is low. That is where I started too!

hugs, Rain :D

[RoguePixie]

They started me at 75 twice a day ......it was not fun.

[Jangu]

I just started taking it. I am to take 75mg twice a day. The pain already seems less..not gone, but less. And it feels like I am floating...ha ha. But the pharmacist said that some of the side effects will wear off after about a week.

[Breezy]

Hi,

I have been taking Lyrica for about a yr. now. Can't remember what I started at - maybe 50 or 75 mg. 3x/day. Then 100 mg. 3/day. However, I have had daily migraines that only topamax helped so I had to continue that (a lyrica cousin) and went to 100 Lyrica 2/day and 100 topamax 1/day.

Side effects - I thought it made me gain weight & my pain mgmt. dr's nurse said she had heard the same complaint from others. Also, some spaciness and forgetfulness.

Then my neuro told me to take the 2 100s of Lyrica both at the same time in the a.m. and that seemed to help even more with the pain. They said I could go up to as much as 600 mg. of it per day. But so far I just take that 200 in the a.m. and maybe another 100 in the afternoon and the 100 of the topamax at night.

Good luck. I have a question for people about leg twitches as this disease progresses. They don't really hurt. Is this part of RSD or something else?

Thanks,

NinaNina, Re/ the leg twitches I also am having them along with my arm's!! I have had RSD since 2001,but the jerking started about a year ago. It usually happens while I am sleeping and will wake me up about 3 to 4 times a night. I have noticed an increse since I started the Lyrica mixed with the 200mg of Topamax that I have been taking for years!! So I think it could be a part of RSD or a combination of medication?? I wish you the best. Always Breezy (aka) Betsy... ;)

[Jangu]

:)
It has been a week of being on Lyrica. And, other than a floaty feeling, I feel great!! The pain is almost non-existant and yesterday, I was even thinking if I could go back to work!! I was also worried about weight gain, but actually, my appetite seems to have dropped! I would give it a try...my doc gave me samples, so at least, if they didn't work, there isn't another bottle of meds unused!

[Sandel]

I was started on Lyrica a couple weeks ago and was only on it for a week before it was pulled cause WCB hadn't aproved it yeat.:eek:

I was started on 75 mg twice a day and cut my gabipentin in half, had some good results as I did not get alot more pain from dropping the 1200 mg of gabipentin a day, but not long enouph to see how well it will work as aposed to the Gab. (woozies though)

So today I finaly got aproved and have gotten a perscription for 75 mg twice daily.. but this week I will take lyrica once a day and as I said half the Gab and the week after that I will go right off the gab and raise the lyrica to the 75 mg twice a day.

Is it best I take it in the AM or PM?

hugs,
sandra

[Jangu]

Re: when you should take the lyrica...it would depend on your day. I take one in the morning and one at night...my mornings are quiet, so the floaty feeling can happen and it doesn't disrupt anything. At night, I think it helps with the sleeping. (not sure cuz I am on other meds as well) Good luck! I hope it works for you!
Jan

[Breezy]

Hi,Sandel and Jan, I am on 50 mg of Lyrica. I have been taking it now for about six weeks. The pharmacy labeled my Rx wrong and I was taking 100 mg's at night and 100mg's in the morning. I became so swollen in my hands and ankles,that I had to call my Nuerologist that put me on this in the first place!. His nurse got back to me and said to taper down to 50mgs pm &am to see if the swelling goes down. I also was having troubles with urinating &(retaining water)Ever since I decresed my dose,things seem to be back to normal. I have an apt. this Friday with my Dr. and have many questions to ask him regarding Lyrica!! When I get home I will post his answer on here. Best of Luck to All Breezy.. (aka) Elizabeth...

[rainbow422@aol.com]

Hi Jangu!

I got the name of a workers Comp Pharmacy, they approve my medications and pay for them. Then them combined with my attorney fight among themselves for payment.

I am in NY and am not sure if that matters but the number of the pharmacy (mail order) is 1-888-321-7945

Can;t hurt to give them a call to see if they can assist you!

Gentle Hugs,

Rain :D

[Sandel]

Hi Jangu Hi Rain Hi Breezy.. an anyone missed hi too..

Well 1/3 way through week three on Lyrica now... I know what you mean by the floatys I actualy feel realy disoriented in the AM somedays.
My doc decided not to increase my 75mg twice a day (I take AM an PM too)
as would normaly be the case with someone who was on 2400mg of Gabipentin.
Because of the dizzyness we wait... Doc read up and the BIG book said that this effect tends to get worse with time... so we shall see how it goes.

but I do feel better than when I was on the Gab, less achy, but some of the burn that gab controlled is not being controlled at this dose aparently.

Hugs,
Sandra

PS reading back.. I have had very bad constipation as well.

[kathy d]

Dear Breezy and All,
I had tried Lyrica and Topamax as well as every other anti-seizure medicine on this earth and I can't take any of them because I get headaches, vomitting, and just can't move off the bed from sheer exhaustion [like someone previously mentioned]. I feel worse after taking the pill and still had pain. I pray it will work for you.

I love this site because things that have happened to me or are happening now have happened to others. It makes me feel much better knowing I am not the only one going through this terrible RSD pain. Thanks everyone for your input.

As far as the twitches, I have had them all over my body [from head to toe] continually for about two years now. I've had full-body RSD for a little over two years and they have never gone away and are worse at night right before I go to bed and am lying still. I have noticed lately that whenever I am tired I will have more twitches. I started seeing a chiropractor in July 2006 and she almost immediately got rid of most of it but I still have them mainly at night. I know when I take Ativan or Xanax the twitching is less and I have been trying to get myself off of the Xanax and it has been 10 days now that I have not taken it and I can still feel the withdraws from not taking it. It has been very difficult and there are times when I wanted to take it but didn't give in. Sometimes, I don't know if it is better to not take it and suffer or take it and be dependent on it but have less pain?????
Best of luck to all,
Kathy d