Lyrica - Is this a real drug to help Chronic Back Pain?

[Ozworks]

I have experienced chronic back pain for a number of years due to degenerated disc disease. I current take Oxycodone for the severe pain. I am concerned about the side affects and if this is truly a drug that helps with the pain. I have heard that it is an experimental drug, not made for pain and just causes more depression. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[betterlife6256]

anything that starts with oxy is garbage and will ruin your life if you have a lifelong injury do something else i know so many people who ended up divorced broke and addicted i take lyrica and its great for back and leg pain, stay off the hard drugs excercise is key.

[mike1234667]

I have back problems and need a L5/S1 decompress and fusion and that's my #5 back operation, 4 previous decompressions.
I have had varied degrees of back pain plus leg and foot pain for years
Saw a pain Doc and he said stop morphine derived drugs, use Lyrica plus panadol plus neurophen. Keep off oxycontin, off endone etc as they are very addictive I believe
Results of Lyrica and Neurophen and Panadol are excellent, ok I am a bit tired and a bit confused but much less than I was on Endone and Jurnista that I had before.
I am seriously looking at not having next operation, I can live like this and even if its only temporary, its very good. My Pain is greatly reduced and at times I get totally pain free days, its fantastic and I really hope it works for others
Mike

[RexLand]

Lyrica - that would be a toss up.  I was taking it for a year and didn't like the side effects.  It caused other complications that surprised me.  For example, I had to start using an inhaler (asthma type) because I started having problems breathing.  When I took enough to get rid of the pain, I felt drunk and would lose my train of thought in the middle of conversations.  It didn't help with headaches or anything else but it did work with nerve pain in my feet.  Not sure I recommend it but everyone reacts differently.  It was easier to quit that other things I've taken.

[cookie445]

hi iam just starting lyrica as of today 11-21-2012 and really worried about taking it after reading everybody coments ,,, worried about the weight gain for one iam a heavy women... and other side affects ... dont know what to do should i start it? its for back pain they want me to take it ...                                                                                  thanks  cookie

[Breezey]

any one if I can have a drink while on Lyrica? I know the bottle says no alcohol but...is it no alcohol because you get more intoxicated or no alcohol becuase the two will shut your liver down? It being the christmas season I normally have a few drinks with x-mas parties and such

[Tuckamore]

Hi Oz,

I think you made a wise decision. Good luck to you.

Peace, Tuck

[Ozworks]

To all of you that have posted a reply, thank you.

As for Lyrica, I did not go with this, research and advise from other doctors say it may not be the best route to go.

I met with my PCP and as I take the pain medication Oxycodone, I was also given a precription for Vistaril in combination. This is suppose to help with the pain. They change the Oxycodone to Oxycotin 10MG ER, this is suppose to help relieve the ups and downs affects that Oxycodone gives a person. Meaning it is suppose to give time release over a longer time period so I do not have to take so many pills a day.

This is just informational, please ensure you talk to your doctor for your specific condition.

Anyway, thanks to all...

Oz

[tiffany515]

I am currently being tested for MS, but have been told that I have fibro, CFS, depression, and carpal tunnel....whew!~  anyhoo.....my doc prescribed Lyrica for me, and at first I hated it.  It made me feel so dopey and then I started to feel MORE depressed, because I was so "down" and slow all day.  my doc encouraged me to give it more time, and I did, but am still going to stop taking the drug.  It did help with some of my neuropathy such as the numbness and tingling/burning in my arms.  It did not help, however, with my severe muscle and joint pain.  My neuro refuses to write scripts for any pain med. other than those for nerve pain, and has referred me to a pain specialist.  I have appt. Dec. 1st, so I just have to fight through it until then.  The yucky side effects of the Lyrica did improve greatly after a week of taking it, but still makes me feel kind of "down".  So, with that, and still being in pain, I am weaning down on the Lyrica to stop taking it.  This is just my experience.  Remember that we are all different, and each of us handles medications differently.
Tiffany

[Tuckamore]

Hi Breezy,

Welcome to MedHelp. I am sorry you are experiencing a headache with the Lyrica. It's difficult enough to deal with CP let alone the side effects of the medications.

Your headache should ease as your system adjusts to the medication. If it continues I would certainly contact your physician and report this side effect.

Good luck to you. I hope you are soon feeling better. Please let us know how you are doing. Take care, Tuck

[Breezey]

I am on day 3 of Lyrica, I am having very bad constant headache and can't think straight and am dropping things and feeling rather zombie-ish. I am only starting and am supposed to up my dosage on Monday...any one that has taken this can you say this is the body adjusting? will this subside? The pain is slightly less but the headahe is so very bad. I have Myofascial Cronic Pain and have never been on anything before.  After five years of tests and nothing I honestly thought I was crazy and the pain must be in my head, fighting with myself that It has to be real to fall down in pain sometimes. I'm rather scared to be on drugs and am also scared it will not work.

[HawktheSlayer]

Hi I take Lyrica along with pain meds and have been on it for about 2 yrs now. It does have a few side affects that I my self see. I do have some short term memory loss where I can be talking to my wife and all of a sudden dont remember any of the conversation and she has to retell me what was said. I also know that it is a drug that you can not just stop taking, your Dr needs to show/tell you how to stop taking it. Other than that I have not seen anyother side affects, I do feel that it helps me with my pain, but it is up to the Dr to decide if it might help with your pain. Also about the sex drive I have to say that I think mine went up ( ha,ha ) not down, the only problem is my wife feels bad because I hurt after, but I tell her that I would hurt anyway so at least I will feel good for a little while. Well again talk to your Dr or goto wedmd and read a little about it for me I feel it helps a little and I talke any help I can get.
R/
Adam

[Lilkim703]

I would look into the side effects of Lyrica before making a decision.  Some of which I am aware include weight gain, short-term memory loss, drowsiness, dizziness, swollen hands & feets, loss of concentration, confusion, loss of sex drive, blurry vision, bruise easily, etc.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Oz,

I sure hope the therapy you are going through will provide you the results you are seeking. I am not a physician, or an expert, other than with my own pain.

Out of all the physicians I have seen the one thing that remained constant is I would have pain for the remainder of my life. That's their general agreement. I would hate for you to anticipate complete recovery from pain and it doesn't occur. I don't want you to feel like you failed, or that you should have done something else. Does your doctor say that will be the outcome of these treatments? And what do I know, in your case you may achieve a "pain free life."  Again I just don't want you to feel bad if it doesn't happen.

Lyrica is worth a try. There is an older medication called Gabapentin that works similar to Lyrica. It takes a while to get to the right dose for each individual but I have seen it work very effectively. Even my 75 year old mother takes it with great relief.

I was glad to hear you say that you "never give up" that is what keeps so may of us going. We never give up. It is a good attitude to have. If you have additional questions feel free to PM me again. Good luck and let us know how you are doing. Take Care, Tuck

[toolmaker]

I have been on and off Lyrica now for two years and personally dont believe it is worth the copay.

[woodsprincess]

I've taken lyrica and it helps nerve pain, but I could'nt stay awake. I havearthritis that is pinching 4nerves in my back and take vicodin four times a day. I still suffer alot.

[Ozworks]

For Shanna707 & Tuck: Wow, thank you for excellent feedback, very helpful to me.
Sounds like Lyrica is more for nerve pain rather than the deep severe aching pain that I am experiencing. When I first had back pain in 1999, the nerve was pinched and gave me sharp pain down my left leg to the bottom of my foot. It was very sharp pain (like needles) and at that point my orthopedic doctor operated on me to scrape bone away to relieve the pain. This worked great for about 5 years or so, gradually my muscle spasms came back and the pain in my lower back came back. Over the last 2-3 years the pain has become unbearable. I have seen so many doctors that it is just ridiculous. It has been just so much of a waste of time, my wife and I just cannot believe how bad the system is. Finally I gave up on them, after going to a pain management clinic and therapy that just hurt me more than anything. I am now going to a private specialty clinic (chiropractic) that offers non-surgical spinal decompression. I started just over a week ago (huge cost out of pocket of course). My therapy with them is daily session on a DRX9000 True Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression System, about 30 minutes. Then I am put on a ‘Tens’ unit for about 15 minutes, then they give me a very gentle adjustment session. So far, I have had good results along with painful results, but over time I expect to recover so I can live a pain free life.
As for the pills, any pills, I hate them. I do not like taking anything, if at all possible. Along with the pain medication I am now taking, I’m also taking a full range of vitamins (Dynamic Mega, Ultra Potent-C and Chondro-Relief Plus) to help build up my body. I believe over time this will also help be get back to a healthier life. I have hope.
I just tired, it’s been a long run of pain, and my concentration level is just shot. (As you may detect in my wording, etc.).
I’m very fortunate that I have full support of my wife, family and friends. I work out of my house so I do not need to go to any office, I would not be able to do this. And I never give up.
Anyway, I am rambling away here, thanks for your sensitive feedback and let’s hope (I have the faith) that soon things will turn for the better.
Thanks so much, Oz

[Tuckamore]

Hi Ozworks,
I am sorry you are having pain. We know how it can disrupt you life. I think your question is about Lyrica and not Oxycodone.

Lyrica is suppose to treat two of the most common types of nerve pain. It works within your body to calm the damaged nerves that cause pain. According to LYRICA information it can also reduce the stabbing, burning, and shooting symptoms of Diabetic Nerve Pain or Pain after Shingles.

It was designed to specifically treat nerve pain from multiple causes. It is designed to reduce the number of “extra” electrical signals that are sent out from damaged nerves in your body. It is suppose to calm the calm the extra electrical signals in your nerves. It is not a narcotic like you are currently taking and it is often prescribed for ppl with Fibromyalgia.

It is new as Shanna stated but it is not an experimental medication. Many ppl report pain relief when taking Lyrica. I have not taken it. I am hopeful there are others her that will post with personal experience. If my PCP prescribed it for me I would take it.

Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing. And take care, Tuck

[Shanna707]

     Lyrica is a newer medication, but not experimental as far as I know.  It is usually given more for neuropathic or nerve pain rather and works well for some people especially for people with diabetic neuropathy.  If you have numbness or tingling type pain like sciatica, it just might do the trick.  I know someone who takes the Lyrica in conjunction with vicodin and feels it is helping.  I have never heard that causes depression, but I do no that uncontrolled pain can cause alot of anxiety that leads to depression.  The Lyrica is probably worth trying depending on the type of pain you experience.  I wouldn't think the Lyrica could substitute for the Oxycodone for severe sharp/throbbing type pain, but everyone reacts a little differently.  Bottom line:  I wouldn't hesitate to try it if your pain in not under control and your Dr. is prescribing it.  If you don't like it, you don't have to keep taking it.  Good luck with this!!
Shanna707