Started Lyrica

[Kathi49]

Okay, thought I would give the Lyrica a go one more time. I am doing it differently though and taking 25mg in the morning. In a couple of days I will up it again making the total of 50mg for the day. I started this last night and again today and it seems to be so much easier on me. No drunk feeling...just more sleepy than usual but I can handle that. And who knows, maybe 25mg is all I need for now. But I would imagine I will have to go up.

I would like to stop the Vicodin altogether..and it is just one pill a day. So, that shouldn't be too bad. But then again I may need it for the "mechanical pain" as I call it. And eventually I would also like to stop the Klonopin altogether and I take .05 a day once a day as well. All of it remains to be seen. It sure would be nice if I end up tolerating Lyrica okay and MAYBE stop all the other. I just don't know yet. But that burning or PN or whatever it is was getting pretty bad...enough to try the Lyrica again.

I just want to go real slow with this. But, I have noticed that my legs, especially the calves, ankles and feet are so much better already. It was nice this morning not to be woken up with that burning going on. I am not sure if it acts that fast or not...but it seems to...unless I am imagining it. :)

[BrokenBladder]

Kathi that's wonderful news!! I really hope that you're able to tolerate the Lyrica. I've heard good things about it, but wheen I tried it I couldn't handle it. of course I was put on a higher doseage just as you were the first few times you tried. I will be interested to know if this works out for you in the long run so please keep me posted!!:)

[Kathi49]

Thanks Lisa,

I will just have to wait and see how it goes...no promises LOL! :) If I can tolerate 50 mgs...maybe even more, I will stick with it. I just know in the past the SE's were pretty bad on the higher doses. I THINK, and it has been a long time, that at first I was given 300mg; later on a 100mg, now 50mg. And I remembered that my PM had said to just go ahead and split it up. So, I am doing as he suggested and we shall see. I know with Neurontin, no matter how low the darn dose, I NEVER got past feeling sick or dizzy. And since Lyrica is its cousin...I am a little wary. But I am trying. :) Just give me a couple of weeks or so and I will have a better idea of how it is going to work.

One thing about it...even if it took the pain down or away, I just can't afford to be loopy, dizzy, sick or whatever since I have so many darn PT appts. It is the driving...I won't and absolutely refuse to drive feeling that way. So, let me see how the lower dose works. So far so good. Just sleepy a little more than usual...but that's okay. I am just glad I am not dizzy...not yet anyway. :)

[BrokenBladder]

Kathi,
I agree with you about the driving if you're feeling drunk on anything. That's a scary situation and in your case the PT has helped so much that you really need to stick with it. I can't tell you how happy I am that you're getting relief from it. I was so worried about you because I knew how badly it had affected me, but then again, I have IC and most people don't. Lucky me!!

[Mark N]

Kathi, glad to hear that you aren't having problems with Lycra so far. The burning pain can drive you crazy and something you can't just ignore. I hope you don't develop the drunk feeling from it. Sounds like your PT is helping and you may be able to cross off one pain complaint some day.

[Kathi49]

Thanks you guys,

Thanks for worrying for me Lisa. :) I did talk to my PT about IC because of you. :) And like you said, different situation and tougher to treat. That whole pelvic floor business can really get to a person! :eek: So far so good though...two more months of it. And wasn't the reason I started the Lyrica even though it might help some. It was the darn burning sensations and as Mark says...drove me batty! But this seems to happen every year right about this time; when it is hot and humid. Come fall and winter it should calm down some...and then begins the arthritic type of pain. And, well, all the spinal issues to boot. Oh, and what did my PM say one time...something about, "When you have arthritic pain it is pretty painful, but when you add the neuropathic pain to it, it is debilitating." And that's why I thought...try the Lyrica again. And, nope, I will NOT drive when feeling the way I did on Neurontin. It was too damn scary...been there and done that and refuse to do it anymore. That's why I try to keep everything as low as possible. But just couldn't hack it this time around...that burning was waking me up all the time. If I go higher or tirate up and start to feel that way again...longer than it should be, I will have to stop it. I can't afford to feel that way and attempt to drive to appointments or anywhere else for that matter. Otherwise, I will have to depend on someone else for a ride somewhere. And that's tough to do too because most everyone I know has a life LOL! Just kidding...I mean they are working and what not. Geez, maybe it is me. People will help I just HATE asking them EVERY time I might need ride somewhere.

Mark,

Hopefully, I will be able to cross this pelvic stuff off my list...the sooner the better. But two more months to go...at least. And I am glad I am doing it...it has made a big difference even though there are still issues with the spine. At least I can sit much easier than before. And yep, I couldn't ignore that burning anymore even though most times I can to a degree. I guess I have grown somewhat used to it. But this time and sorry to put it this way but it was...dammit!!! LOL You know sometimes, and a friend mentioned this to me the other day, we get in a comfort zone even WITH the pain. Hard to explain but I know what she meant. She just meant that after awhile it is just there so much of the time that we somehow block it out if we can. Like a tolerable level in a way. But this was getting to be too much. I will keep you guys posted as to how it goes. I just have to give it time.

[Gimpy]

Kathi:

Are you experiencing any shaking with the Lyrica? My hands/arms shook uncontrollably to the point I had to cross my arms across my chest and hold them down. I only got 2 days in before I flushed the rest. I hope you have good luck with this new drug. I wish I could find something that worked for my nerve issues.

Gimpy

[houghchrst]

Good luck Kathi. I am waiting for my doc to read an EMG report that was done on my legs and feet last year so he can decide whether or not to prescribe Lyrica for me. I have no idea what the connection is but I really am looking forward to trying it. I have heard quite a few good things about it. I love the Neurontin but some of my pain it just wasn't touching. Plus the first time I took it with my Zoloft I thought I was gonna climb the walls. Very hyper. I will find out on the 9th whether or not I can take it. I have such and awful time with meds, seem to be allergic to so many things that I am trying to not get too hopeful.

[Jo6]

good luck Kathi. I do hope the Med. will help:) Julia

[Karen from Indiana]

Good luck with it! Im still wondering how long it will take to see results with it. I started on 75mg at night and it does make me drunk feeling but thats about all. How long to give it before I see results?

[Kathi49]

Gimpy,

Wow! No, I have not had any uncontrollable shaking. Then again, I am only taking 25mg right now. I don't blame you for pitching it...I would have too!

Christina, Julia and Karen,

I couldn't handle Neurontin at all. That's why I am wary about Lyrica. The only thing I am noticing right now is more sleeping than usual. I really don't like that; can handle it, just don't like it. And I noticed more nausea today. I am still trying though. Karen, I just don't know...I THINK a week or so. It is hard for me to remember exactly but I believe they always said to give it at least two weeks.

I will say this much and I hate to sound like a big baby. But if the somnelence continues and/or the nausea, I won't be able to handle that every day. I am just thinking for right now it is a matter of getting adjusted to it or used to it. If it does me like Neurontin did, I WILL pitch it. But I am trying very hard to stick with it. I came very close to taking a bit of Phenergan awhile ago. But drank some water instead...the nausea passed a little. Oops, forgot to add too that I am tapering down on the Vicodin too. That might be a cause of a little nausea. And even though I was only taking one a day, I have been taking it a long time. So, who really knows. :eek:

Good luck to you guys too. I am sort of like the rest of you in finding something that will help without alot of SE's...just too darn sensitive to so many meds.

[Jo6]

Kathi, I too have a hard time getting my body to take on another strange substance. I take a good bit of Phenergan, more than I care to .

This is one reason I am very slow taking on new meds. the Dr. wanted me to try Lyrica, but I declined for now. I live in a dream world, hope to wake up one morning and the pain will all be gone!! I wish.

I'm not a Dr. nor medical person, but if I were you I wouldn't try to change too much at one time. You mentioned cutting down on the Vicodon and if I remember correctly you were taking a same dose. Try keeping that intact until your body is more used to the Lyrica. Like I said, I don't know nuttun so you better do what you and Dr. wants. I wish you much good luck whichever way you go. Julia

[Jo6]

I have been wanting to do this ever sinse I saw this the other day. The Chorus Line

*boogie *boogie *boogie *boogie

[Kathi49]

Ugh, headache this morning...not sure if it is the Lyrica or not. But I haven't had a "regular" headache in a long, long time. Usually it is the occipital kind. Anyway, Julia you are probably right. I should probably just stick with the Lyrica and not try to taper the Vicodin just yet. And I did want to say that a friend of mine tried Lyrica about a week ago for her arm (nerve pain) and said she had the worst headache she had ever had in her life. At the time I told her maybe she just had a headache from the trip she took...a tension headache perhaps. But she swore up and down it was the Lyrica. Who knows, maybe I am experiencing the same thing and maybe not. :eek: But if I start to have headaches every day, then no, uh uh, forget the Lyrica.

[Karen from Indiana]

Oh geez...last night I had a doozy of a headache...please not the lyrica! Im like you Kathi, if its everyday, the lyrica goes!

[houghchrst]

I have been trying to find somewhere that will tell me if there is a connection between the Lyrica and headaches because I get terrible migraines, but all I can find is that it is used for treatment of migraines also. Now one of the side effects of Vicodin withdrawal can be headaches. Everybody is different though. I really hope that the Lyrica isn't causing your headaches because I am looking forward to this helping me. I just got over waking with a migraine every morning for a month when I started taking my Zoloft. Now I don't have that problem but still take the Zoloft. Ate a lot of Excedrin Migraine even though it only took the edge off. Can't take my Imitrex with Zoloft, at least not the 100mg. Hope you all start feeling better soon.

[Kathi49]

Karen,

I am sitting here smiling at your post...I DO understand..and my headache is still pretty bad. I just wanted to say I really do NOT want to blame it on the Lyrica. I was just thinking outloud or rather typing here...I wonder if Lyrica triggered it. But it is just this ONE time...today. But heck yes, if this continues, forget it! Because along with headaches of any kind comes the nausea. I thought I would have to get out some phenergan while at the post office a few minutes ago. :eek:

And to try to answer Christina too, I also have been reading that it is supposed to help with migraines. Just know the headache I have today is NOT a migraine nor an ON type. Just a regular ole headache if one can call it that. :) Anyway, I have decided just to stick with the one Vicodin a day for awhile and continue to the the Lyrica. But I am going to turn it around and take the Lyrica at night. I was taking it in the morning just in case I had some kind of strange side effect and while my husband was around. But all I am experiencing is just sleepiness. Sooo...why not take it at night instead? :)

But for right now and after PT, I am hurting at both ends. So, I am getting some ice and some moist heat and lying down for awhile.

[jimac]

Hi Kathi,

I have been on Lyrica for migraines and radicular neuropathy for over a year. I have been taking 150mg in the AM and 300mg in the PM. Matter of fact I am increasing to 300mg in the AM and 300mg in the PM today. My advice is titrate slow and give Lyrica a good chance. The SE should diminish in a few days. I don't remember getting any headaches from it... but then again I have so much head pain :mad: ... but not the "regular headache"...:confused:
Lyrica helps my burning and tingling pain in my arms quite a bit. :D

Good luck,
Jim

[Kathi49]

Jim,

Thanks! I know what you mean by the head pain. And I think I read where you have some cervical spine issues. I know what that is like in regards to the headaches. That's why I called this one today a "regular" one. I finally got rid of it. I don't even know what to call the other ones because cervicogenic and/or occipital are words that are just too kind! :D Somebody needs to come up with some demonic names for those types because that is what they are! But to be honest, since my two fusions, those types are few and far between; not an every day thing anymore at all. But they can and will hit from time to time.

Okay, so getting back to Lyrica. I am starting off at 25mg THEN I will go up. I just wanted to do it this way for a few days and SLOWLY go up as you said. It IS helping the burning sensations. And I agree, Neurontin helped with SOME nerve pain before but it is always the SE's that make me stop. So, I will continue to work with the Lyrica. I'll take it tonight and see how I feel in the morning.

[jimac]

Kathi,

Oh yeah, I have cervical spine issues at c3/4, c5/6 and c6/7.
Lyrica started working in less than a week. That was fast and I was surprised.
Lyrica has helped the severity of my migraines some but not the frequency.
Like I said.... I can not remember Lyrica causing any headaches. It seems to help my chronic daily headache (migraines) and the neuropathy even more.
I got lucky! First time in many years.

I also take Cymbalta and it did give me what I call mild regulars. A mild regular is a headache that is a 1 on a scale of 1 to 3. But they too passed and I still take Cymbalta. So for now it is Lyrica, Cymbalta, Baclofen and pain meds.

Take care,
Jim

[Kathi49]

Jim,

The Lyrica is working well for the PN...if I really have PN. Shoot, I keep getting conflicting information. :eek: In any case, neuropathic pain...yes, it is helping and it DID work fast. I didn't have a headache this morning so it may have just been the way I slept. I know what it is like to have the migraines WITH the neck headaches and it is horrible. But as I said, the fusions pretty much stopped most of them. And I have tried Cymbalta before but couldn't handle the SE's. I am glad to know that the meds are helping you. I will stick with the Lyrica for awhile and go up with it in a couple of days...to 50mg. LOL! See, I am just one of those people that has to go very slow...otherwise it will kick my tail end! Oh, and I like your description of "mild regular" lol. Yesterday's headache was about 2 or 3...annoying and painful but got rid of it pretty quick overall.

[jimac]

Kathi,

What's the current state of your Lyrica experience?
I hope Lyrica is treating you well. :)

Jim

[Kathi49]

Jim,

LOL! I ditched it!

I was fine and it was working well for the burning pain. But, into the 5th day I had muscle wide body cramps or spasms or something; just hurt all over! It was worse in my arms and it FELT like my hands were going to turn into claws. And, yes, I have cervical spine issues. The pain was so bad on Saturday I called my PM...he was on call that day. I told him I had tried the Lyrica and what had happened and that I had to stop it. So, he put me on Prednisone (Dosepak) for a week...and another story LOL! Anyway, within about a day or so BEFORE starting the dosepak the cramps or spasms or whatever they were calmed down and of course the burning pain came back! :eek: As of today, my PM had ordered a CT scan for my neck and I had that done this morning. I, of course, am no radiologist, so I don't even know what I was looking at when I was looking the films over. I'll let my PM handle all of that. :)

I should have figured something like this would happen because this makes my 5th try! And I do remember my legs hurting pretty bad when I tried it before. I thought maybe if I started with 25mg it would be easier...and it was. But then...wham! So, basically, if I can't tolerate Neurontin I guess I can't tolerate Lyrica either. Oh, and one of the SE's of Lyrica IS muscle and joint pain and it was bodywide.

Oh, well, onto the next med...whatever that may be. :)

[jimac]

Kathi,

I have be been lax in my forum reading lately. I must have missed something.:rolleyes:
Anyway, sorry to hear that you ditched the Lyrica. Too bad to, it can work well.
I hope that you will find something that will help the nerve pain and can be taken long term.

Jim

[Kathi49]

Thanks Jim,

I am going to ask my PM about some other meds. But in the meantime, a Selective Nerve Root injection sounds really good right now LOL! My neck is acting up again. And I really think I have just irritated something; I have had this happen before. But I will know more next week. As for the neuropathy, I am just using Biofreeze for now and taking the Klonopin as usual. And I dug out my soft collar just because it gives my muscles a break for awhile. :)

[ErinENj]

Kathi,

Like Jim, I'm a bit behind on the boards lately because of things here (mostly good stuff with a little not so fantastic stuff sprinkled in.) but I'm very sorry to hear that the Lyrica didn't work out for you. I've been on it for I think something like two years or even longer (It's so hard to keep track when I start my meds) and it seems to work pretty well for me. Towards the beginning of my five years with CP, the thing that bothered me the most was the pain running down my legs, and since I started taking the meds for neuropathic pain, the radiating pain has gotten a bit better. It is still there some times, but it is a lot less frequent than it used to be.

I really hope that you can find something soon that will help your neuropathic pain! And that while trying to find something, you don't get stuck in worse pain or any of the negative side effects you've experienced in the past with these types of medications. Finding the right one can really help with at least a little bit of your pain. And I hope the journey to get to the right one is quick and easy on you! Keep me posted on how you're doing and if you find something that works well for you!. I'm very interested to see what else is out there for this type of pain in case something goes wrong with the Lyrica dose I take.

[Lil E]

I started Lyrica at 75mg and it worked but the muscle stuff was not good. I asked my PM if I could go to a lower dose and went to 25mg at night for the first week, then the same in the AM. Still had some muscle weirdness but that is now gone. It also worked right away, my nerve pain went down by75%!

I've been taking it for about six months, I get some pain in my forearms in the AM sometimes but its worth it not to feel the horrible pain in my legs.

[debhun]

I was in another world with Lyrica. and made me swell in my feet and legs really bad.
I was to my heel Dr the other day and was told I had nerve damage where he did the surgery.He said he was going to put me on Lyrica. I looked at my hubby and I keep saying Lyrica Lyrica. Why does that sound funny. Well the Dr gave me samples and when I left the office I was reading it. Hit my head said dumb butt you can't take that crap. But before I left the office the Dr gave me a shot in my heel and I almost passed out from the pain from it. No more shots for me.
I hope you do great on Lyrica.

Deb

[Dynan]

Deb sorry to hear the Lyrica didn't work for you...I took Neurotin for 6 yrs and I feel like I lost 6 yrs of my life...Was in a constant state of La la land...I did a slow taper off of it...Finally after 2 months of BS with medicare part D I got to try Lyrica...I started July 2 nd w/75 mg 3 x per day...It was a welcome relief for bout 3 weeks...I was even thinking I might return to the work force...Well now almost 2 months later I am getting not as much PN relief...I am needing to back to the Dr. and see if she will authorize a higher dosage...Am having some swelling in the feet/ankles, but am soooo happy for getting less painful nerve pain in the back...I am having an adjustment to the reality I have missed the last 6 yrs on neurotin...


Good Luck to you and hope you find relief soon...A almost neighbor in VA...formally Dodar but after 8 yrs decided it was time to retire the name...*ack