Does anyone take Lyrica for their Fibro?

[grendslori]

Hi everyone! I just found this site and was surprised to see the posting about muscle weakness on the forum. I was always curious about having such muscle weakness; at one point I was wondering if I had MS. Anyway, I just started taking Lyrica for the Fibromyalgia and while it helps with pain, it really leaves me in a MAJOR fog. I was wondering if anyone else was having the same kind of problems with the drug.  

[Caroline565]

There can be different reasons for the muscle weakness. With fibro, our muscles decondition  quickly. If I fail to exercise, injure myself or am too sick to exercise, I reduce my exercise time to avoid overuse and avoid any further injury. It is good to include a few muscle strengthening exercises in with your daily stretching routine.

Another major reason would be trigger points. They can actually shut down the muscle and force another muscle (group) to take over. I have had this happen in my arms several times due to TrP's in my trapezius muscle. Holding a book or lifting a gallon of milk felt very heavy and I couldn't do it for very long. Of course, TrP's are related to myofascial pain syndrome, a commonly co-existing condition with fibromyalgia.

[Caroline565]

That's really interesting. I have not tried it, I thought I'd take a wait and see approach since what I am taking seems to be working satisfactorly. All I had heard in the past is that there were many complaints about swelling (hands & feet) I didn't know about the cognitive effects. Well, that's not going to work for me then because I am most of the time in "fogland" anyway. Thanks for posting the info.

[deedee332]

I have taken lyrica and had to wean myself off.  The doctor just kept raising the dosage and things just got worse.  While lyrica works for some it doesn't for others.  I had more pain while taking than I do now and the fibro fog was just unbelievable.  I couldn't handle that at all.  Give it a while to get into your system and then if it still does not do you well then wean yourself off of it.  Good Luck, and God Bless

[Khiba]

Hi,

I have MS and fibro and have taken Neurontin for the last 6 months (precursor drug to Lyrica) After a recent round of IV steroids, I ended up totally stiff and about bedridden. The Neurologist sighed, as they all do, and suggested doubling the Neurontin. I did that before and it didn't help.

I had a prescription to Lyrica last year and it did give me brain fog and I called it my Stupid drug and got off it. However, last night, out of sheer frustration, I substituted 50 mg Lyrica for a 100 mg Neurontin and within 20 minutes, I kid you not, the stiffness felt like it was flowing out of my body and the pain in my hands from neuropathy decreased by 50 percent. I almost cried with joy. I woke up this AM able to get out of bed and walk pain free throughout the house.

I am going to ask the Neurologist today if I can try the Lyrica again. I know it makes folks gain weight, but for me, 20lbs would be a blessing! If it makes you groggy during the day, I know some gals who just take it at night. I need to move so I can get the fibro under control as exercise helps bunches. I need the Lyrica to get me started again.

Khiba

[VaBreeze]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/747931

Welcome.  We actually had this conversation not long ago.  One of the side-effects of Lyrica is cognitive difficulty...I chose to discontinue it because of this problem.  Hope you will adjust and that it works well for you.

Take care.

[uk2]

Hi

I've been on lyrica for a year up to 600mg at one point took me 6 mths to come off it it help little and i put on 2 stone have lost one and a half now.

It actualy helped my fog at a higher level but also changed me made me tired anixous angry but i was on a high dose so,but i am glad to be off it but some people says its a wonder drug, i too wonder if i have MS and am going to a neuro again as it been 2 year since last lot of tests i am completely disabled and bedridden most of time and fibro is not ment to be progressive!!!

hope lyrica works for you, the difference between leg weakness in fibro is lack of use due to pain i think with ms it just comes on my r side is very weak with hyper reflexes.

sam