Has anyone tried LYCRIA yet?

[idesofmarch]

My RA gave me a free weeks supply RX for Lycria but I have not brought it into the pharmacy yet.  I also got 2 RX to start me slowly if I like it. Trouble is that it is so new that my copay will be almost $40 per month. I am on disibillity right now and can't afford it.  Also it is good for diabetic nerve pain-I don't think that I have nerve pain.I have muscle, joint and low back pain.  So bad that 3 vicodin every 4 hours doesn't do anything for me. It does take the edge off for an hour or so.  I'll appreciate your comments.  This site has been sleeping for over a week. Is everyone having a fibro-flare?

[MSR231]

My dr. just prescribed for Lyrica for me yesterday and I will p/u at pharm. today.  I am 58 yo female w/25 yr. hx of fibro dx.  I am also hypothyroidic, but do experience symptoms of someone w/hyper thyroid disease.  I was worked up for lupus several years ago and spent a good deal of time on their message boards until it was decided that my markers were not significant enough to carry that dx.  It is felt I have some auto immune issues, but not labled altho' I do have mild Sjogren's and Reynaud's.  I have been through most conservative regimes: antidepressants w/ no effect, talk therapy, I'm pretty grounded, mild pain meds and OTC's with no change in pain levels and sleep inducing meds... (where do you all get your pain meds?  I gues my docs have been very conservative.)  I am on HRT almost 10 yrs. post total hysterectomy ; I have MVP and deal with palpitatations on a regular basis, I have osteo arthritis.  I HAVE JUST in the past 6 months DEVELOPED A TINGLING/BUZZING BODY WIDE SENSATION (no pain, just annoying & distracting as all get out) that the doc is calling a peripheral neuorapthy. I read on the one hand that Lyrica is a great drug and on the other many of you have had side effects and larger issues w/it.  I am almost afraid to start a new medicine now that I am down to those meds I need to take to manage thyroid, ulcer (from OTC's and pain meds I was on), cholesterol and sleep (dependent on Ambien CR) altho feeling like I do is getting very old.  I have had periods of anxiety and depression, but function well and want to continue to do so.  For me much is mind over matter, but the mind is getting weary.  I can't bear the thought of more lethargy or confusion from the drug...any comments would be most appreciated.

[sfbaygirl]

I just started Lyrica, I'm on day 5 and am hurting like a big dog. Yesterday was much better. I am starting slowly because when I did Neuronton, I did 3 a day pretty quickly and went nutz, literally.  I am thinking about starting week 2 with 100mg a day sooner. I can't stand the pain anymore. I noticed you have Hep C. The forum here on Medhelp for Hep C is great. Lot's of folks there for years and very busy.  Check it out.
I am supposed to work up to 3 50mg a day too.  I sure hope it works. So far nothing.  Did you gain the weight from the Lyrica?  My appetite is so bad, I can't imagine gaining weight when I can hardly eat. Now that I am down to a good size, I sure hope I don't go back up.  

[Prissy7950]

I too have recently been put on Lyrica 50mg three times a day and the first week it seemed to help ,going into my second month now and pain is back.Think I need an increase to 150mg and take ambien cr  to sleep at night.I recently started taking black seed  and bittermelon and the energy is amazing plus black seed  aids in regulating blood sugar levels.I just need the pain to stop in my legs.RA,Lupus and HepC plus high blood pressure and heart murmur,reflux and hernia's but biggest problem is over weight and I'm working on that now,trying so hard to lose but hard without exercise which I can't do because of stiffness and pain.

[itwillworkout]

I have rhuematoid arthritis, neuopathy, diabeties, and fibromyalgia. I was in miserable, terrible pain. My r.a. dr. was giving me flexeril but then started me on lycria gradually topping my dose off at 400 mg. of lyrcia a day. I have had no increase in my blood sugar,(with good eating habits) no weight gain, and I have my life back to a degree. I don't get the sleepiness that others say they experience. I guess I am one of the few that am  live life without the  pain of neuropathy.. Now I am not talking about the rhuematoid arthritis, (I am on remicade for r.a. along with mtx) although it does help, (lycria)   I hope this continues. I have been on lycria  for a little over a year.  I take lycria and flexeril at nite and I sleep like a baby --- don't wake up  constantly in pain like I use to. . I hope it continues. I don't want to go back to the way I was.

[gmsassy]

I have just started with Lyrica on Monday and I can tell a difference  already. I am almost afraid to believe it. I have felt like I had the flu for almost two months now and last night I was able to wash my car and clean it out. Not much of a job, but one I have no energy to do after a day at work. I am hopeful.I am taking it just for the fibromyalgia and have had no ill effects yet except being a little sleepy the first two days. I usually move around and can't get settled with my legs at night and this has helped!

[MarieMom3]

As I had mentioned above.. I also had elevated blood sugar levels with Lyrica.  I had to take a lower dosage and eventually my PA added Januvia to balance the swing of levels.  Januvia works with your other diabetes meds by lowering your levels but it won't work if your levels are too low.  It has been working great to balance my blood sugar levels and allowed me to stay on my lyrica.  Lyrica has really helped me quite a bit.  I still hurt quite a bit.. but I have more of a life now.  Good Luck!