Lyrica and Cymbalta Questions

[meki]

OK - can anyone who has taken Lyrica and Cymbalta in conjunction with each other please give me your experiences --- and how long you've been taking them?

I've been temporarily "diagnosed" with neuropathic pain issues (think Fibromyalgia).

Waiting on some final test results to rule out any other Autoimmune Disease - but I believe I'll be finally diagnosed as Fibromyalgia.

My Rheumatologist / Internist has prescribed Lyrica and Cymbalta together.

Now - with that in mind - I need to tell you that I finished Treatment for Hepatitis C, with Sustained Virologic Response (what is considered a cure) - with Interferon and Ribavirin --- I finished it last year in March/February. But have had pain for the last 3 years, which I associated with Hepatitis C, etc.

I ALSO HAVE ADVERSE REACTIONS TO MEDICATIONS and have ADHD.

Adverse reactions to include:
++On methlyphenidate (literally "speed") I eat everything in the house and get sleepy.
++On Percocets 10/325, I wake up and don't feel pain... But I don't get "high" like other people seem to.
++Coffee puts me to sleep or just makes my heart race...
++Valium makes me grumpy.

Now, with that knowledge - and knowing that outside of prescribed medications that I DO NOT TAKE DRUGS, nor do I drink very often (champagne at weddings, maybe a glass of wine or two a month - or if I go out with the girls once a month, I might have a margarita kind of drinking...)

My concerns are:

---Long term effect(s)
---Long term side effects
---Temporary side effects
---WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY DO?
---Is there a noticeable difference in pain --- if so, how much?


Is it worth it to me to try out the LYRICA - Cymbalta combo she's prescribed?

If so - what should I expect?

And TRULY --- how bad is the weight gain? (Because I'm already pretty chunky... LOL!)

I'm pretty funny about medicines and I'm a bit "scared" to try anything "new". Especially New to the market.

Meki
Ps. Thank you for your time

[spastic]

You are always welcome to stay here on this forum.  I know the frustration of LimboLand all to well and definately sympathize for you.  You will always have a friend in me.  If you need to talk, just send me a message.  

Your Friend,

Ada

[meki]

Thanks Ada ---

I really appreciate that input - I'm going to post this post on the Fibromyalgia board...

Sigh--- I'll figure out where I'm supposed to be eventually - LOL!

But yeah - I do know what your brother means... It's weird - docs will give me something for this or that --- and it does the exact opposite for me.

Strange thing...

My friends all go do coffee runs and then clean their houses - Me -- I crawl into bed with a fast beating heart - LOL!

Have a great day!

Meki

[spastic]

Hi there, okay I have taken Neurontin and Cymbalta together.  Neurontin is similar to Lyrica, but is a lot cheaper.  I could not tolerate the Cymbalta at all.  It made me sick with vertigo, nausea, and it didn't help with the pain.  I was prescribed this when they first thought I had fibromyalgia and then later found out it was Still's.

I have friends that take Lyrica, a lot of them are on the MS forum here and they had little luck with the med itself.  If you find the side effects of Lyrica too unpleasant make sure to let your Dr know and maybe try the Neurontin next.  I have taken that med for years and have had no adverse side effects with it.

I would definately take extra care when you are taking this med with your history of severe reactions in taking medications.  I wonder if you have like a chemical imbalance or something.  I have a brother who has that and as he puts it, he takes downers to come up and uppers to go down.  As morbid as that sounds.  

Please keep me posted.

Your Friend,

Ada

[meki]

Oh - and how does it make you feel?