I am currently on Lyrica and I can say that at a high enough dose it works for my chronic pain. I have found that the pain only started reducing once I moved to 300mg/day, but it took 600mg/day to get a worthwhile reduction. For me it has meant that I can stand or sit for much longer before pain breaks through.
There are two sets of side effects - a transient phase, of a few weeks; and the chronic side effects that accompany long term daily use.
* The transient phase starts with feeling like a space cadet: walking into things, slurring speech sometimes, memory lapses, arithmetic and spelling skills of a stoned monkey, weight gain while on usual diet, etc. This is during ramp up; for most people these effects start to fade after a few weeks to a month or so. Then again, I can't remember :-) Driving is out of the question during this phase.
* The long term phase starts when you are on a stable dose; whatever side effects are lingering might be chronic ones. For me being very sleepy about an hour after a dose means I hit the sack in the morning for an hour or so. After that I'm functional. Strangely enough, a dose later in the day doesn't make me as sleepy, in general.
Other side effects include reflux (don't eat just before bedtime), weight gain (due to activation of fat cells), the odd uncontrolled muscle jump/twitch, and sex-drive - like none! Most people are lucky enough to miss out on that side effect.
The manufacturer has some info on side effects but their data on frequency is not coherent with reality, in my opinion. I'm fairly sure that some of the side effects are much more common than clinical trials revealed, for reasons I won't speculate upon.
I have another post over in the "Pain Management" forum, Sep 23 2008, in which I give more detail and explain the medical tests you should do before starting Lyrica.
All the best whatever you end up doing.
no i didn't have a problem with percs, but thanks for the suggestion.
did u have a problem with percocet...if u did i wouldnt start them back up just cos lyrica makes u dizzy..there are lots of other alternatives
I am on Lyrica now and it makes me dizzy and very tired. Today at work I was in a training class and I kept dozing and no matter what I did I coild not stay awake. So I asked the trainer if he cared if I stood up and he said that was fine, so while I was standing I dozed and almost lost my balance, scared myself and freaked myself out. I feel very dazed on it too. I probably will only use for about three more weeks and then get back on percocet.
I could not tolerate lyrica...made me a space cadette..so did cymbalta which is also used for nerve pain...i went to a rhuematoid doc and he put me on a med called namenda...a alzheimers med! but approved for nerve pain in europe...no side effects at alli think the generic name is amantadine...lyrica is not recommended for people with prior addiction...but i see u r still on pain meds so perhpas that does not apply to u...just an FYI
I have some nerve damage in my left bottom portion of left leg from a clot in an artery. I go through bouts of occasionall nerve pain, mostly pins and needles type stuff, sometimes real sharp pain. Anyways about the lyrica, when I got it I took it everyday for about 3weeks, it worked great for the pain but it did have some side effects for me. I gained some weight, but that was also because I wasnt active what so ever, and I did have memory problems, walking around in a bit of a dazed state. Thankfully the nerve pain is not a daily issue so I get bye just taking it as needed when the pain comes. I havent taken any for about 5wks now, havent had any side effects since I stopped the daily doses. Some other people report no ill side effects so its the same as most other drugs it really depends on the person. If you need to take it then by all means, but Ive found for me that if I can avoid it I will. Hope this helps, take care.
well I am just seeing that you gain alot of weight and I really need my memory for the job that I do...
I also was diagnosed recently of nerve damage according to an MRI that a pain management Dr order me, he put me in Lyrica and I have not perceived neither improvement or decrease of my pain, neither side effects whatsoever.
I was put on Lyrica for Fibromyalgia pain, and it helped with the pain, but it caused me to be out of it and tired and dizzy all the time. I finally had to quit it. But, I have heard it helps a lot of people. So, at least give it a try. A lady I work with takes it and it works for her! Good luck!!
hi, my mom took lyrica. it made her incoherent. she could not remember anything. i do know others who took it with no problems. maybe it depends on the person. good luck with it, if you decide to give it a try.