Lyrica - Do side effects go away after taking for awhile?

[JLW]

I was on 50mg/day for a week, and now am on 75/mg once a day for a week. Today was day three at 75/mg in the morning.

Wooziness, fatigue, a wee bit of brain fog. I'm not even up to the 150/mg per day that the doc wants me to build up to yet!

Will these symptoms go away after I've been on it for while? Will they get worse at a higher dose?

Have any of you taken Lyrica and had this problem?

After this afternoon of really feeling "dopey and tired" I am not sure I want to continue taking it!

[jjano]

Hi JLW,
My wife was on 50mg/day for two months and the following problems never got better****Swelling, nausea, serious brain fog, serious balance problems, diarrhea. The good news was ***improved sleeping pattern, and her PN and Spinal Stenosis were wiped out. But the side persisted. So she discussed the possibility of an every other day 50/mg dose. Doc said no study was ever done but lets try it. She was on that regimen for two week when she took a BP dive in the Dr's office. Then four days in the hospital and off Lyrica. I can say the sides during the half dose period were a tad less but still present.

When I read the huge doses being taken and when I see what 50mg can do, I wonder what the body is doing with those huge 100*300+ doses.

Hope the above helps. One other thing, she had been on Neurontin prior to the Lyrica and got no pain relief, just bad sides.

Good luck to you!!!!!

Jim

[dlshaffer]

I am continually amazed at how different we all are even though we all have PN in one form or another and from many different sources.

I have been on Lyrica (300mg) since this past spring and it has done wonders for me. I do have a slight balance problem occasionally, but do not experience any tiredness, no brain fog (had that with Neurontin), and no diarrhea. I also take Tramadol (Ultram) as the Lyrica does not 100% take care of the burning sensations. I also have a home Anodyne therapy unit that I use 4-5 times a week. All of these in combination have made my quality of life 75% better than it was a year ago. I have three granddaughters aged 8, 6, and 4, so I need to be able to enjoy them, go with them to various events, and take care of them.

I have to say I do not have pain as such, but rather a burning sensation and weird feelings in my toes at times. When I have been on my feet for any length of time, they hurt as in a soreness, but not what I call pain. Also, I have just recently been diagnosed as prediabetic. With all the testing I went through, nothing was found that would cause me to have this PN condition. I have found that when I eat things with a lot of sugar or if I get upset, my feet do feel worse.

Diana Shaffer

[~Kaelie]

I was on Lyrica for about 7 months. About 6 weeks after starting, I was on 600mg/day.

Yes, 600. 300 is not the maximum dosage, only the recommended dosage for PN. Apparently my neuro missed reading that line... lol

After 7 months the side effects had not gone away. I had extreme dizziness, falling-down drunkenness, constipation and vision changes (and those are just the bothersome side effects)

At the time I was also on 300mg Topamax for seizure control....

The PN was being controlled for the most part... all except for a "handprint-sized" lump on my thigh. My neuro added Namenda to the mix. I titrated for 10 days at the end of July, by Aug 1st, I could no longer walk down the hall unaided.

Then the wildest thing happened... the neuro took me off the Namenda, and that same day the Lyrica completely stopped working. I still had all the side effects though. Over the course of the next 3 weeks, my neuro kept adding other drugs to the mix to see if the Lyrica would begin working for me. She added maximum dosages of Cymbalta, and Keppra. Yes, you counted right... 4 anti-convulsants at the same time. I was a zombie and still in pain.

Eventually, I got fed up and stopped taking all of them except the Topamax. My PCP prescribed Neurotnin, but after 2 weeks of quick-titration that had no effect either.

It took 3 weeks after going off all of the drugs to feel somewhat normal again.

[nide44]

I was on Neurontin for 6 yrs (no s/e) before switching to Lyrica 13 mos ago.
No significant s/e, except occasional constipation. Stool softeners and seneca work on an as-needed basis (seldom).
I also am on Tramadol (Ultram). Dosage started at 50 mg Lyrica 3xday (I was on 4200mgs Neurontin/day) and titrated to 200 mgs Lyrica 3xday. Tramadol is 100mgs 4xday (same as when I was on Neurontin).
Pain & PN symptom control is much better since the switch.
If a Neurontin user has no significant s/e - then Lyrica should pose no problems, as they are in the 'same family'.
As with Neurontin, s/e should diminish with usage, usually within 3-5 weeks,
as the body accepts and gets used to the med.
If significant s/e continue- discontinuation of the drug is advised.
I've found it to be a 'lifesaver'.

[MelodyL]

Hi All:

Alan's doctor wanted him to try lyrica but after reading all your posts, I DON'T THINK SO!!!

But what does the word titrated mean?

Thank you

Mel

[Silverlady]

i've struggled hard to find something to take for the pain. I ask a lot of that simple capsule. It has to be non-drying to my eyes and mouth first. Then it has to not make me spacy or dizzy. Next, it has to let me keep my mind. Then finally it has to work for the pain. Well this capsule fills the bill for me. I started at 50mg twice a day, then 3 times a day. At that point when it wasn't doing much, she raised it to 75mg at breakfast, 75mg at noon and
150mg at night. It is working pretty well. When we get back from Mayo if nothing has changed with this med because of Mayo, we will then increase it to 150mg morning, noon and night. All done under my neurologist. I do have to use the minimum dose of Tramadol with it several times a day if I've exerted too badly.

Billye

[glenntaj]

--the dosage is to be raised gradually to check on tolerance and effectiveness.

[MelodyL]

thank you my dear.

Melody

[Silverlady]

Sorry Mel,
I meant to answer that. Mouth was in gear, brain wasn't.:o

Billye

[JLW]

How embarassing........

I forgot I had done this post!!! :p

Saw new neuro doc after I did this post, cause other was leaving for Florida for good. New one wants me at 200mg per day. I am at 175mg per day right now, going up gradually. 25mg per day increases, making the increase every seven days.

I must say I am surprised. No dizziness or lightheadness the last few days. Higher dosage, less side effects. Maybe it's just the transition period ya gotta get through, huh?

It has helped a little with the stabbing pains, but not much in the "rugburn" sensation stuff in my toes. I was given Lidoderm patches to try on my foot. That helps with foot area, but still not much relief to the toes.

We shall see how I do at 200mg per day, maybe that will kick out the rug burn sensations.

Still struggling with left hip pains, I'm thinking it really must be some nerve compression cause why else would it still cause trouble when x-ray of bones shows nothing and PT doesn't get rid of it.

It's terrible getting old. I wanna stop! :eek:

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated. (Wonder if the Lyrica made me forget I did this post?) :D

[roz1950]

Lyrica is a big time weight gainer . there are other meds out there

[nide44]

I've gained weight ever since being on Neurontin for 6 yrs, but I've put on a bit more with Lyrica. Its a trade-off. Lyrica does what I want in the pain & symptoms area, but i'm gonna have to diet severely to lose weight. I take 200mgs 3x day=600mgs/day and Tramdol 100mgs 4xday=400mgs daily.
The dieting part is difficult for me, but I've gotta try to lose the 30+ lbs I've put on. But my pain levels are down fron a 7-9 to 2-4. That's improvement!

[annie56]

Hi friends - I have to say that Lyrica changed my life! I have been on 50 4x a day for almost a year now and yes, I have weight gain, yes, I am more consitpated - but I haven't felt this good, EVER. I just got back from a two week vacation and for four years I didn't even leave my house because my feet and hands hurt so bad to do anything - even though I was taking 2400 mgs of neurontin and 8-20mgs of oxycontin a day. Now with the Lyrica and Oxycontin - I have a life to enjoy with my family. I do wish the side-effects went away, but there is always a trade off. I did find that the brain fog left after stopping the neurontin - but I'm still always tired.
Annie

[joy]

great that you are feeling better annie. i cannot take any of the medicines anymore. neurontin, and all of them cause my feet and legs to swell big time. i don't mind the weight gain too much. or let's say i went for years and did not let my weight cause me any grief emotionally wise. in fact it was a plus sort of as it let me be more outgoing etc. i know it doesn't make sense but that how it was for me anyway.

i would think that the oxycontin would do the trick without needing anything else. isn't it weird how different we all are? my pain management doctor had put me on a small dose of oxyonoctin until the things he was doing for me for arthritis pains worked. it did not work long enough so he put me on methadone and it helped my arthritis pains some. but it helped my pn so much i stopped all the antiseizure meds completely. i would not advise this for anyone else without checking. but once i asked on the pn forums if antiseizure meds would really cure anything and got the same answer as i did from my doctors, well there was no going back to those meds that caused me so much swelling. and i no longer had all the pain that i did at night that kept me from sleeping.

with swelling it made my numbness much worse and caused me to run a greater risk of getting foot sores from my shoes not fitting right. i'd not notice that they would swell up so much and the shoes would rub. i have had more than enough of sore feet and years of therapyfor foot ulcers plus one unnecessary foot surgery to ever want to have to worry about that again.

and yes much much less brain fog. so glad to hear you are out of the house and going. i still am not there myself but have hopes. i had an undiscovered bleed from taking some meds that made me tired. i now take iron pills and am not as tired but still not up to par either. might want the doc to check further if the tiredness continues.

[nide44]

...... say that Lyrica changed my life! I have been on 50 4x a day for almost a year now and yes, I have weight gain, yes, I am more consitpated - but I haven't felt this good, EVER.,,,,,,,, I do wish the side-effects went away, ...............
Annie

Annie,
I've found that the constipation from Lyrica can be overcome by using the powder fiber products like Fiber One, and Benefiber (I use this one). It has helped tremendously in getting me back to 'regularity'.
Three teaspoons in 1/2 glass of water when I take my morning and bedtime meds is all it takes for me to be back to 'normal'.
Sometimes it seems to work too well and I skip one or two doses,
or reduce the amount to 2 teaspoons. But it works well for me.

[twotoejoe]

Lyrica is a big time weight gainer . there are other meds out there

I've tried Neurototin and Topamax, do you know of any others that DON'T cause weight gain? I've gained about 30 lbs in 3 months with Lyrica, and that puts me over 300lbs! I can't function at this weight.

[Kathi49]

Joy,

I am right there with ya!

My story is a long one so I will try to keep this short. I have tried Neurontin in the past, many, many times. It made me sicker than a dog in more ways than one. Through the years I have tried various meds for all of my spinal disorders. The only thing that worked and worked well was Vicodin or Norco and Klonopin. Currently, I am taking ONE 5/325 of Norco and ONE .5 of Klonopin a day and am able to function quite well. I still have some pain; mostly osteoarthritis and some nerve pain but the combo of Norco and Klonopin keep the burning sensations down.

Anyway, my spinal PM wanted me to try Lyrica one more time (this will make the 3rd time). I took the first 50mg capsule today and I slept for hours and hours, lower legs hurt badly and when I got up was severely nauseated. This is how I was on Neurontin too only worse. And, yes, I know, this is the first day. But if I am going to contend with heavy sedation and nausea every day, then forget this stuff LOL! I would rather have the pain and be able to FUNCTION! So, I am just going to say it...I would prefer to stick with the opiates and the benzos than to try these anti-convulsants over and over again only to get sicker and sicker. And trust me, I have been on Neurontin, Lyrica, Depakote, Cymbalta, Elavil...and the list goes on and on. Thanks for letting me vent. I am just disgusted with the whole group of anti-convulsants and anti-depressants. It seems the opiates work the best, for me anyway. :)

[roz1950]

Topamax , Keppra , Tegretol they dont cause weight gain .

[GinaMarie]

My foot doctor (podiatrist) just gave me samples of Lyrica Cv to try again for my P/N. I told him I took Lyrica once before and quit it. I couldnt remember why I quit but it was because of dizziness or other effects.

Now reading this I think it was because I was crashing into things because of balance. I already have bad balance issues.

Im on topomax now for migraines and seizure problems and love it because I have lost a good amount of weight. I DONT want to gain it back. I also already deal with bowel/bladder issues and dont need consitpation issues..

Now Im debating whether I will even take the Lyrica or not. He told me to give him the other sample back if it doesnt work. I would rather deal with my P/N than constipation and more weight gain after finally losing it.

I also am a single mom of 4 boys who are a challenge (2 being special needs and all 4 being ADHD) and I am tired all the time already and CAN NOT be MORE tired. I HAVE to keep up with them as much as I can.

I did like when I was doing the anodyne therapy. That did seem to help. My primary was wanting me referred to a specialist when I told her about the neuropathy going to my face but I dont think her staff saw that note.. Because I never got that referral and its been a month or two and they are usually lots quicker than that.

Thanks for the reminders about the Lyrica.. :) I dont think I want to take it again and add it to my cocktail of other meds.

Gina Marie

[leondas]

I'm on 100mg Lyrica twice daily but I think I should ask for a third dose as my pain is not controlled very much by this amount. Maybe I should ask my neurologist about Tramadol. Any time I do yard work and use my hands and arms a lot I suffer for days due to increased burning pain. Your experiences are welcome, Tom