Lyrica - What do you think about this drug?

[Cascarb]

Hey everyone,  Iv just been put on this med by my consultant to replace Gabapentin which I was taking for a few months but didn't work very well.  

When I took Gabapentin I was on 1200mg 3 times a day and have now been put on 300mg of Lyrica twice daily instead though he told me I would probably need to increase that because I was on such a high does of gabapentin.  What dose of Lyrica works for you?  I know everyone is different but am interested so that when I speak to my family Dr because she isn't very experienced with fms so is welcomes my input into my treatment which I think is great because it shows she respects me.

What do people think of this drug?  Im a little worried about the side effect as Im already always tired and starting to loose my six pack "laughs"  ..

Anyway ill stop blabbing now lol

[buymebarbies]

I tired it and LOVED it. Something finally worked for me and I had no more pain. The problem was that I gained so much weight and couldn't figure out why. When I stopped taking it, I lost all of the weight almost immediately. I also tried Cymbalta and that did not work AT ALL for me. I didn't gain weight but am ready to stop now cause it doesn't help. Am going to try Savella next. Good luck

[gemstocks]

Lyrica makes me so bloated I  spend the night burping. Is that lyrica or all the extra food I eat?  

[skeetelmore65]

Thanks you guys for the input. I am going to try it and I really don't have a choice now since I have 2 Lyrica left and I feel that anxiety a little. I just don't know what to expect. I have the 300mg. here(Neurontin) and the Topamax 25mg. I want to know how to take it with the Topamax. It says to take the Neurontin 3x a day, so I will take it morning, noon and at night. The Topamax I think I will take it at night so I won't think @ it. I am sure everything will be okay. I am just a little weary. I just am so used to the Lyrica and it does help me so much. I am worried though @ Cascarb giving it a try...watch out that weight will jump on you b4 you know it. I mean it. I was happy and getting around and doing things more, but bam..there was the weight and me in bed. I am just concerned. I wish you luck with it..maybe it won't do you that way.
     Concerned...do you think the way I switch over really will be fine. I just don't like messing with what I am used to taking. I do have the 200mg. Lyrica, but they make my face break out badly. I mean they give me blisters...I guess I would be better taking the Neur. and the Top. oh...so frustrating...I wished we didn't have to take a thing. Medicines...I am so tired of them. I don't like to try new things with what is working ...but my weight has spiraled toooo much. When it comes to breathing I guess it's time to do something. Promise me Cascarb when you get 5 or 10 lbs over what you want to be do something then or it will jump on you fast. I am just concerned @ it. I am so miserable and scared to change. I know I will be okay.You guys take care and I will check in tomorrow and see what's up.
Oh, and thanks again for the info. I appreciate any help I can get..:)
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO..just in case we don't get to talk again...hope so... and
GOD BLESS..always,Karen

[Cascarb]

Hey all thanks for all your messages,  iv been on Lycra for just under. Week now and today has been the best day as far a pain goes for years, it's still early days and I'll see how I feel tomorrow (it's 23:00 here) but I'm feeling confident with this hopefully it will work out,

dustybrown yes that's the one.  I found out on of my collegues at work takes it for migraines so if Lycra doesn't work out will have a word with my dr.

Skeetelmore65, about your worries with swapping over straight away I felt funny for a few days but my head wasn't any worse than usuall, the only thing is that my muscles felt worse for a couple of days but it's been really bad weather here (Scotland need I say anything else lol) so might just be that.

Does anyone know if anything can help fibrofog? I'm starting to mess up at work and I work for an insurance company so can't really make mistake of it costs thousands lol

Thanks again eveyone for your support so far

[concerned621]

I've lost 21 pounds in the last 6 months. I did join a gym and started in a warm pool just 5 minutes at a time and worked up to 30-40 minutes 2-4 times per week.  I walk in the water and it's been amazing. But I do believe I would not have lost the 20 pounds without the topamax. It's side effect is weight loss.  I never had any swelling.  I learned a long time ago I will not take a medication that makes me gain so much weight, my health and ego starts to suffer. There are better options out there. Gabapentin is not one of my favorites but until they figure out something better for FM and stop prescribing Lyrica and all it's side effects I would go with the Gabapentin and give Topamax a chance. My other friend with Fibromyalgia lost 40 pounds on Topamax. And I have minimal problems with headaches and I suffered with daily headaches and weekly migraines.  
Now you have to eat better.  Don't give up your pie but all in moderation. I did really well over Thanksgiving, Topamax curbs your appetite a bit.  That and getting some light exercise, drinking 98 ounces or more of water per day, eating more protein and good carbs is a great start.  There are other supplements you can look in to like Alpha Lipoic Acid and Chromimum Picolate. They help regulate blood sugar and will help with weight management. Another great one is Iodine. It's helped me so much with my weight loss.  As with anything you take look up side effects and interactions with other meds you take and other health conditions you might have.  Try so hard to get that weight off for your health, for your ego ;-) and just because you will feel so much better.

I was 205 pounds. I had 5 surgeries on spine in 2 years for a total of 7 surgeries.  I told myself exercise was out for me.  I was so sick of size 16 and not feeling attractive on top of being in so much pain.  Now I'm in a little less pain, I've reduced my pain medication and my sleep medication since losing the weight and I feel so confident.  So I wish you the very best.  
I started Topamax and stopped too. I decided to give it another shot, all the side effects, feeling loopy went away and I have zero side effects so I think your plan to switch to Gabapentin and Topamax is a great option.   Good luck!!!!

[skeetelmore65]

Hey guys do u mind if I ask some questions @ Lryica and Neurontin? I have been on Lyrica for over 2 yrs and it has helped me tremendously, but I have gained...get ready..80lbs...yeah and it is killing me. I tried to swith to the Topamax, but it made my feet swell to 4x's their normal size and I wanted to take it so much because of my weight issues. Do u really think that the Topamax was what made my feet swell. It was Thanksgiving and I had been eating a lot of Pie...who could resist all of that pecan and pumkin pie..Well...back to the issue. I am not a big eater and I used to weigh 124 and want to get back to at least 130-135 to get back into my clothes. I have nothing to wear...and I mean that. My hubby had to go and buy me 18's and that really crushed my ego. I don't have much of one, but what I had was at least I felt good in my clothes and now I can't breath. I look like I am ready to have it at any time and my youngest son likes to make me poke it out and rubs it like there's a baby in there. I said if I could trade it for all the pain..I would have 10 babies. Seriously..:)
     Should I try to take the Neurontin? I have a bottle that I never took and it is for 300mg. ,but my doc just gave me a script for 600mg and he said it was okay for me to switch right over and I do have concerns like Cascarb. I am afraid to just switch over because of getting the headaches that I have heard of, but my weight it just spiraling out of control. I am so scared, but my nerve damage won't permit me to go down on my dosage of Lyrica...the pain is so excruciating and I can tolerate pain pretty well. I have a spinal cord injury that is being looked at and I heard that they can rebuild bones? Is that to good to be true or real? It would be nice if it is...:) I hope anyway if anyone knows of it let me know if it is true. So, what would be best to switch to the 300 or the 600 on Neurontin or if I should give the Topamax a try again. What would you guys do? I would love to find out so I can breath again...sawy for yapping, but really need to get some answers and you guys seem to be well up on it. Thanks and I am a member and have been for a while..so I will add to watch list and I can come back and check it out from my watch list in my profile for those who asked that question. I hope the best for all of you and hope I can get myself straightened out too..
Take care and always..GOD BLESS...Karen

[scaredmom330]

I take 1800 mg  gabapentin  daily and it works wonders for my fibro pain, i was on lyrica and had to stop because of the side effects, I gained 40 pounds, my hands and feet swelled. I took it for about 3 months. i am concerned about the comment that you shouldnt take gabapentin on a daily basis and that is a high dose. if you do any type of research you will see that isnt a high dose with people who have fibro also helps with pain for OA, RA and any nerve damage. I also have nerve damage in my lower back and it helps with that.And I am going to a doctor that specialises in Fibor and nerve damage... I suggest you give the lyrica a try, not everyone has the side effects and it did help alot with my pain, i was extremely tired when I first started taking lyrica but after a couple of days it went away, i started out at 50 msg and when I quit was up to 150 mg. have you discussed the side effects you are having with your doctor?

[dustybrown]

Are you thinking of Topiramate for the medication that starts with a "T"? That is the generic form of Topamax that I have been talking about. If you ask for it for migraines the NHS might cover it. See what the doctors say to that.
Topiramate is approved for migraines and epilepsy here in the US.  Our insurance won't cover it here for FMS in the US either because it's not FDA approved for FMS. Doctors use it off label for FMS, but if it's coded it for migraines it's covered. Most of us suffer from migraines anyhow as a symptom of FMS, so many doctors will prescribe it. Does this make sense?

[Cascarb]

Hey thanks for your comment, ye the gabapentin was a bit bitter sweet, I worked upto that does slowly but I always felt completly out of it.  The dr that prescribes it (well Lycra now) is a pain consultant but I don't think he is a tms speciallised just fms freindly.  He seams to think that in about three weeks thedoes will need to be increased even more!!!

I spoke to him about a diffrent drug that iv heard mentioned here I can remember what it's called it begins with T and is like Lycra lol anyway he was saying that the uk don't prescribe it for fms because the only study done on it was payed for by the pharmasutical company and the nhs won't pay for it.  

Sorry went off subject there lol but ye I'm trying to be seen by a fms specialist but there is a 1 year waiting list for him and my insurance won't pe to go private (I'm In Scotland)

I also take 600mg of tramadol a day which I'm not happy about but to be honist I can't afford not to work and athough I'm off my nut all day ateasf I can walk (kinda)

[concerned621]

I can't believe you could handle that much Gabapentin.  Did you have a lot of side effects?   Here is my two cents. I hate Gabapentin and if there were a bigger word for hate I'd use that for Lyrica.
If your doctor is not familiar with fms stop seeing her for it.  There isn't any reason to be on this dose of either one of these drugs.  There are so many other options and only docs who are well versed in fms could help you with that.  With each drug, there is hair loss, weight loss, I had problems seeing with Lyrica. I have very good vision other than needing glasses. I had been taking Lyrica for about 3 weeks. Gained about 7 pounds and noticed my vision was extremely blurred.  I was in shock to find out it was from Lyrica.  I stopped it immediately.
What happens with FMS is that as soon as a new commercial comes out basically a pharmaceutical company realized a drug they developed for something completely different reason may have some slight chance of working for this other problem, just so happens Lyrica is the new one for FMS.  In my opinion I'd wait 5 years and let them test that theory.  Just like Vioxx, of which I took for 3 years. It was a fabulous drug for FMS however look how that turned out, people were bleeding internally and dying.  So I caution you, which is my humble personal, non medical opinion.  I've been on just about every medication you can think of.  I've had FMS since 1992.   I take Gabapentin only when I am in desperate nerve pain.  You shouldn't need it on a regular basis,  if you were being treated by a doctor properly for FMS pain I'm pretty sure you would not be on it and not on that dose.   Again this is my humble personal opinion.  But I also personally would NEVER take either Gabapentin daily at that dose or Lyrica ever.  
If you can get an appointment even with a Rheumatologist who works with FMS.  They are up on the latest studies and drugs.  Stay with you family doc but do what is best for your health.  Take care.

[BooBah1]

If it weren't for Lyrica I could not function...it helps alot with the pain, I'm on 200 mg daily. I just wish there was something to take all the pain away.

[RockyMD]

Also, dizzy too. I fell too. Being so dizzy and my vision not great. At one point, I was walking cross my condo and stumbled on a shoe on my floor. Not something I have done before. And since I am already in pain, I could barely pick all 105lbs of 5'2" frame off of the floor to go lie in bed. I started the Lyrica Dec 3, and Rheumy wants me 150mg per night.

[RockyMD]

Not working here for me. Any blurry vision or feeling of like a space cadet?  Or am I alone with this issue?  (I think so)

[Cascarb]

Hey thanks for your message ye I'm worried about the side effects but hopefully I'll be ok with the gabapentin I was really bad but after a few weeks i was ok so i
hopeing it will be the same.

[uk2]

i was on it from 2007 till 2008 i went up to 600 mg a day in the end butit caused alot of side effects and on the higher dose i felt agitated and nervous and snappy it caused me bad depression too and weight gain 2 st which i have since lost. but everybody is different and you never know till you try it. sam

[Cascarb]

Hey , Ye my consultant said that because I was on such a hi dose of Gabapentin that I should start on that does.  I was surprised that I was told to just do a straight swap and not wean off the gabapentin?  I thought if you did that you would get have a fit which I really hope doesn't happen because in scotland they are really strict and I would loose my driving license for at least a year!!.  Has anyone else come straight off Gabapentin? Also I feel really wear I had my first Lyrica 300mg's this morning after my appointment and now I feel completely out of it and feel like I don't care about anything which is a bit worrying....  

One thing I do know is that i'm going to get a good nights sleep tonight though I really shouldn't tempt fate lol

[dustybrown]

Hello,
I took Lyrica and found it to be very effective for my pain, but it did cause weight gain. I am surprised you are being started at such a high dose though right off the bat- I've never heard of Lyrica being prescribing in doses over 600 mgs. That is not to say it's not possible though, but it sounds weird to me. Lyrica is very similar to Neurontin (Gabapentin), but it's much stronger. I started at 50mg twice a day for a couple of days and ramped up to 150mg within about a week. My highest dosage was at about 200mg. The average dose I believe is around 300-350mg. I quit taking it before I got to that point.