We appear to have a lot in common, many issues for me (IBS, Diverticulitis, Sjogrens, sero-neg RA, breast CA, whatever...). I have been using fentanyl patch for 5 years (50mc). Just started Lyrica. For me, the sleep is a godsend, and I'm looking forward to discontinuing the Trazadone I was taking to help me sleep. My rheumy just increased the dose to 100 mg after first month. It does give me some balance and goofines problems, but he suggests I will eventually adjust. In the meantime, I'm looking at cutting my Fentanyl patches (with scissors) until I get it down. Also, I'm beginning to decrease my Prednisone, which has been at 7.5 mg for 2 years. So, I'm willing to work on this with Lyrica and I hope it allows me to get off some of these meds as planned.
I take Lyrica with Provigil to help with the sleepiness. I've been Lyrica for 8 months now, and it's working great. I'm also on Ritalin, Prozac, and Florinef.
Lyrica made me feel like I was drunk on a keg of beer and I was crab walking sideways and tilted... Plus an upset stomach.
LOL!
I mean - if I liked drugs that would have been fine... But dang!!!!!!!! That was incredible.
I took them for 6 days --- and I stopped taking them as the sides were getting worse --- It took 3 days to get rid of the sides.
They gave me Tramadol - which appears to be working ok ---- I prefer the percocets now that I've tried something else. I had thought I hated them - but now that I've tried something else, I've learned my lesson.
Much luck -- I've heard Lyrica really helps a lot of people.
So hopefully it will help you.
Meki
I have been on Lyrica and Tramadol for a month (approx.) for fibromyalgia.
Lyrica seemed God sent by like day 3 and with the tramadol, I thought I was going to be okay and the pain was tolerable...but by week three the pain was horrible again, and my hips also hurt really bad. They uped my dose to 150 mg 2x daily of the Lyrica and 100mg every 6hrs of tramadol. I'm doing mildly better. The pain hits me sometimes like a tonn of bricks and I feel worse than ever. I do not know how well the Lyrica is really working, I am still in pain. But everything takes time. I am about to start Suboxone, which you might suggest to help with your withdrawls from the fentanyl, it is real helpful with witdrawls and also for pain.
OH to REALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION: I was sleepy for about the first week and a half and it went away.
Hope you feel better soon!