medication information

Would others tell me the pro's & con's of Lyrica.  I just got a prescription for it.  Thank you :-))

[Ella789]

I took Lyrica for a few months.  I couldn't tell that it helped me very much.   I also took Neurontin for several months also.     I guess it works well for some people and for others the neurontin did better.  It costs so much more than the neurontin even with my insurance.   I no longer take either of these and can not tell much of any difference with my nerve pain.   I think it really does depend on the individual, not everybody responds the same to the same med.   Sorry I couldn't be more positive for you with the Lyrica,  I do hope it works great for you.

Ella

[karajo]

Those that trust in the Lord shall not be disappointed.

I tried the Lyrica thing.  Couldn't operate machinary or care for my family as far as that goes.  I take two ibuprophen and two tylenol when I'm hurting so bad I can't walk.  

I also have lupus and was amazed how much better I felt when I was put on Plaquinel.  Vit D supplements helped (the prescrption kind).  B-12 shots helped as well (with the fatigue).  Keep pressing.  Don't give up and pray for guidance.  God will clear the way.

Hope all of this helps.
God bless, Kara

[gkneez]

I took it for about 5 months. The first month was horrid to get use to the side effects. I was feeling "stoned", looopy and dizzy. Then it was 3 months of definate relief. It helped the pain. Then the side effects started getting worse. My brain fog was so intense I could hardly hold a conversation.

[gkneez]

To continue what I was saying......

At one point they thought I had a TIA. I was seeing double and the pain was intense. I had MRI's, echos, blood tests galore. My Opthamologist thought I might have optic problems. My vision began to change I started to get sicker. I was diagnosed with dry eyes and am now running tests to determine if it is sjogrins. So far everything points to side effects of Lyrica or Fibromygia itself.

I have been off it for a month now. Yes, my pain is up but I feel healthier. Lyrica worked for a while but like others the side effects got the better of me.

[cynara2]

I was on 300Mg Lyrica daily but had my doctor switch me back to Ultram (Tramadol) when I noticed an extremely quick and significant loss of close up vision. By 'extremely' quick I mean 3 months and by 'significant' I mean I lost the ability to read 'teensy tinny' print close up. In three months  my close up vision deteriorated to the extent that I have a real difficulty reading the numbers on the clues of a crossword puzzle. I wish I had never taken the D*** pills!

[Dazon50]

I am tired today, felt that way from getting up.  It has been a bad day so far.  I hurt when I woke up (lower back/sides).  I think the shrimp scampi I ate yesterday didn't sit well with me as I felt "bloated".  In therapy I kept wanting to fall asleep & told the gal that.  It was harder to do the stretches on the machines,etc.

Then going home, I ran through paint...which I left a rant over in the anger forum to let go of that.  But I am about to go to work and still fighting the feeling of wanting to close my eyes.   Not sure if it is the fibro or the lyrica?  I was good yesterday.  I hate this how you can be good one day and not the next.  Weird.  Is it like this for everyone with fibromyalgia?

I am waiting for blood test results from last Wed. with the lupus/RA, etc. that was drawn.  

Thank you all for your feedback.  The doctor mentioned the neurotin before the lyrica.  I said I wanted to try lyrica because a friend swears by it.  I do have some eye pain.  It is different than the ones I have before a migraine.  

Is anyone sensitive to lip glosses, etc.?  I had something weird happen last night that I am not sure if it ties in to this.  I used lip gloss and it tasted like soap.  I started coughing some and my eyes teared up and my nose got stuffy.  That stuffy feeling is with me today also with the tiredness.

I looked to see who manufactured the lip gloss thinking the worst..."china", but it said America.

Thanks for input
:-))

[stellamae80]

Thanks so much for the note.  As for the Lyrica it relieved a 3 months solid back of the head and neck ache that I thought would drive me crazy after an expensive and useless
MRI as I have no insurance.  That is the thing I hate about this Fibro disease.  It mimics
other diseases with disastrous outcomes.  Right now I have a lot of lower back pain
radiating into my sides and all I can think of is it Fibro or something more insiduous.
I am opting for Fibro because years ago I had the same back pain and actually had
a mylegram done on my back.  Had good insurance back then.  I think I drive my husband crazy when I get a flareup.  Hope you have luck with the Lyrica.  I will be able
to get more of it from the clinic I go to.  Will get it free or pay small amount for it.  Thank God for sliding fee clinics and help obtaining medicine at a decent cost.  Belva

[dustybrown]

I tried Lyrica and it worked very well for the pain that I experience, plus it really helped me sleep better, but it made me gain weight and I got very lazy and tired. I quit taking it due to the side effects and the cost.

The first week I started taking Lyrica, I backed my car out of my garage before the garage door was totally up because I was totally spaced out in the morning. I broke the antennae off the top of my car. Boy my husband was upset! After that event I was much more careful to say the least! That spacey feeling only lasted a couple of days for me. I felt completely normal after about one week.    

I did a little better on Neurontin as far as less weight gain and less laziness, but I switched to a sister-medication known as Topamax. It is an anti-seizure medication just like Lyrica and Neurontin, but it doesn't have the same type of side effects and it helps with the nerve pain and migraines that Fibromyalgia can cause.