Is anyone taking Lyrica for pain..and what is the dose please

[slickaroo]

Im taking Lyrica for neuropathy feet pain my Dr says i can only take 300mg ...anything stronger is for people with shingles...is anyone out there take 300mg or higher?  thanks slickaroo

[pamntx]

Have you been tested for Lupus? I have SLE and there are different treatments for lupus.

[Watercan_gal]

I'm taking 300 mg  of Lyrica during the day and 300 at night for Fibromyalgia, it has helped greatly but I have gained about 20 pounds and have a lot of swelling and general "puffiness". My doctor "soothes" me by contributing some of it to menopause but I feel very "chubby". I can't stand the pain to try to cut back!

[Will_Kell]

I HAD neuropathy feet pain diabetic nerve pain in my feet, my doctor told me to STOP eating sugar. I listened to her and, no more pain. 3 months later.

[Fishoke]

I am with you, food + pain equals NO.  Lyrica has changed my life.  It is a miracle drug.  I don't have to take my Vicodine daily.  Some days are of course harder than others but it helps.  My doctor prescribed me 100 a day.  Nothing!!!!!!!!!! So I took 100 X3 and AMAZING...I have my life back. I still am not a HUGE eater on it.  BUT I wish it was prescribed for Fibromyalgia.  It is prescribed for diabetics and my insurance does not cover it.  It costs 250.00 a month, I looked on-line for some help BUT it still doesn't help the cost.  I pay it BECAUSE it works and I can live my life with little pain!. Blessing to ALL!!

[thomasharp]

Is the weight gain just water or does Lyrica make you gain fat? I've been on 200mgx3 times per day for nerve pain since 2010.  It has been a miracle for me in terms of pain relief & quality of life.  The weight gain is a bummer, but for me the benefits far outweigh the negatives.  No more narcotics.

[fredrodgers]

The literature says 300mg/day is the max dosage, is it safe then to be taking so much?  I am on narcotics and anti=inflammatory for arthritis pain, lyrica for nerve pain;  All chronic side effects of spinal injuries from a car wreck as well as too many years as a software engineer sitting at a desk typing.  And well-managed diabetes.

The nerve pain is getting uglier and the only thing fhat works for it is

(a) Lyrica, which is like a dream that just washes away the pain with no side effects at all

(b) meditation.  Amazing, this often works better than narcotics for my nerve pain

(c) being knocked unconscious

[BillBd114]

I am on 200mg 3x a day of Lyrica for severe diabetic neuropathy pain.
I was originally on Neurontin - had to taper up over about 2 years to 3200mg a day as symptoms got worse. Then he added anitriptylline at bedtime, tapered that up to 150mg. I was maxed out on those 2 drugs for about a year and the pain gradually got to be unbearable.
That's when I was tapered off Neurontin and started on Lyrica. The difference was, for lack of a better word, magical once I hit 150mg 3 times a day. NO more pain. None. My evenings were no longer hell! Unfortunately it hasn't lasted, over the past 2 years I've had to taper up again to the current 600mg a day. Buit my weight has stayed constant, I am not dizzy - I'm a software engineer so I need to be alert and able to think. (I was a pharmacist for years but couldn't take the standing anymore).I tolerate the Lyrica so well my neuro is talking about possibly going higher if needed. The alternative will be narcotic pain relievers and I don't want to go there!
Thanks for reading - sorry so long-winded. Mine is not a common story I'm afraid.    

[Traycii]

Lyrica to me was a drug from hell. I spent 3 years of extreme dieting and gym time everyday to lose 90 lbs. I was in the best shape of my life until I cracked my heel bone and had to wear a walking cast, somehow while in the cast the Crack in my heel went straight through making it a full break, when healing I had nerves that got trapped inside the Crack and caused severe nerve pain and just walking with an offset gait created bad back pain which quickly lead to a back fracture while unpacking into my new house bc I couldn't life things properly without putting full weight on the damaged heel so I was put on lyrica. In the first 2 months I gained 50lbs and 80lbs all together!! After working so hard at losing 90lbs and just watching it all pile back on, losing my muscle and it all turning to fat was the saddest thing ever! I looked like a big bloated mess and my hands especially my feet would sweet to the point I couldn't walk 1 week out of each month, lost my job ect. I thought my skin was going to rip open from how humongous they would get. Other side effects were brain fog, constant UTI, night sweats, insomnia, increased pain from the weight gain that was bearing down on my spine and feet, low self esteem from the awful bloating, increased appetite that no matter what I ate I never felt full, heat intolerance, sun intolerance, increased anxiety basically had every known side effect out there including really bad hair loss. When you listen to the TV commercials listing all of the side effects trust me you may not have them to the extreme as I do but you will have some and the biggest issue to me is why is it worth taking lyrica to gain soo much weight soo quickly when the first thing that a Dr tells you to do is lose weight in order relieve your pain bc the extra weight you have actually causes you more pain bc it more strain on your body whe the your pain is nerve pain in your feet, back, neck ect or that it's all over like with Fibromyalgia. ..why would taking a medication like Lyrica be a good idea when all it does is start a vicious cycle of gaining the weight which causes more pain which causes you to need a higher dose of lyrica which in turn makes you gain even more weight?? & especially if your taking the lyrica for diabetic nerve pain in your feet the lurica causes your feet to swell up like elephantitist which is super duper painful??? I'm sorry but in my opinion this particular drug company has made so much money over the whole benefit not out weighing the side effects. Right now I'm in the process of coming off lyrica and if I thought the side effects of taking it were bad enough...the WITHDRAWL symptoms of trying to get off of it are 10X worse, making it comparable to opiate pain medication withdrawls. I've seen so many people report that they have had to go back on or go back up in dosage simply bc they can't handle the lyrica withdrawl. If only I had known how hard it would be to come off this drug or even how awful this drugs side effects were going to be I would NEVER had taken it to begin with. I will admit that it did help out with the nerve and Fibromyalgia pain in the beginning but the long term effects are NOT worth the initial relief. Again this is just my personal experience. It may be a wonder drug for someone else but keep in mind and watch out for side effects, once they start piling on be very careful which path you chose to go down!
Tracy

[ElainethePain]

I had Radiation to Rt. lower lung 6 months ago and now have almost untolerable pain in breast, underarm, lower arm and rt. side, back all the way down the spine, and under the rt. wingbone.   Underarm pain and breast pain hurts even when I brush my teeth.  Any movement with rt. side is very painful.  Driving etc.
Dr. has Px['d.   300 mg then 600 then 900 daily Lyrica along with oxecotyn.  Tried 300 first ended up vomiting, loss of bowel control, and felt drunk and dizzy.

Any suggestions .  Has anyone else had this pain after radiation treatment (6 mos. later).  Dr. says it could be permanent.   Don't look forward to that.   and don't like the effects of Lyrica.

[miracle07773]

Ive had 3 brain surgerys due from an AVM in the motor skill area. I have alot of nerve pain in the feet. I was presently taking 450 mg. of Lyrica daily. My body langauge would tell me when it was time for a dosage with out even having to look at the clock.  After being on it for 2 years it only takes the edge off and I fing it hard to get through my day. Ive been increased to max. 600mg. I have found stretching and warmer temps. seem to help some. Good luck princess. miracle 07

[sonya190]

I currently take lyrica 225 mg for cervical radiculopathy. I had it increase to 300mg per day it worked like a charm but i had side effects. Difficulty concentration, slurred speech, unsteadiness on my feet, extremely tired but the pain relief was 100%. I seen my neurosurgeon about the side effects and i let him know i read about lyrica side effects. I felt like my hands were dropping alot.  my Dr decide to reduce the medication back down to 225mg. The neck pain and nerve pain is back. I had to go on temporary disability due to the chronic pain and discomfort. I see a pain management Dr, Physical therapist, neurosurgeon, and my primary care Dr. It's been two years almost since my car accident. I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm only 40 yrs old and can't enjoy life.

[sonya190]

wow! that's a lot. I thought the level dose was 600 mg. Maybe you should see another Dr for a second opinion. I would worry about side effects

[sonya190]

wow! that's a lot. I thought the level dose was 600 mg. Maybe you should see another Dr for a second opinion. I would worry about side effects

[marbarr]

I've been taking 120mg 3x a day for 4 weeks and last week was diagnosed with lymphoderma (swellinf of my left foot altho I have a vey rare agressive lymphoma  cancer in my right leg.I just heard the commercial for fybromyalgia using Lyrica and that it can cause swelling in feet and ankles. I'm sort of hoping this new diagnosis is only a second effect from Lyrica and NOT a new affliction..Can anyone maybe help on this ?

[princess03]

Hey I started taking Lyrica for my Fibro about 2 weeks ago and I did notice I was urinating alot more!! Then yesterday I started having a burning  feeling when I urinte!! It really freaked me out until I saw where other Lyrica users were having the same problems~~

Thanks
Lynne

[terry3637]

i have ben on lyrica for about ( 2 ) weeks for  perifail nuropahy and it has done nothing  yet except made me very tired and sleepy all day. 150 mg./ does this drug affect every one this way and how long  

                                                                muffin

[pattir727]

Hi
Go to my profile, read a few posts and Journal, they are open to all.

I came to this site to share with others.

If you respond, I will listen.

pattir727

[moon336]

I have had chronic pain now for over 10 years,and have had No! relief at all..I am on 200m.g.of Lyrica,(3) times aday, not counting all the other meds. that I am on! I have so many things wrong with me,they could write a medical book just with whats wrong with me along! But even with all the meds.I take I am still in chronic pain 24/7..

[ashbashed]

YES!!!!!! I hate that about this drug . I had just gotten back down to 110 and I'm going ...up..up...up anyes more up. I try to exercise alot but when i'm having a bad flare its really hard. Well I just cant do it . ESp. if my fibro and lupus or others kick in together.  But yes if you can exercise do it will help with the weight gain.

[ashbashed]

Hi, EVERYONE I am ashley I am 36 and have fibromyalgia,lupus,raynauds,cf, and sjogrens it all kind of came as a package deal, like everyone else I have suffered chronic pain everywhere for so long I forget what it was like to be pain free!!!! I just started the lyrica for the second time and hope I can stand the side effects. I am on perm.disability so thank God I'm not teaching any more I can,t even remember where I'm at half the time FOGGY. Of course I do take loratab, soma, and klonopin too. Has any body out there had to come off the lyrica with better results 2nd time? well Ican understand everyones positions posted especially those with FRUSTATION. Good Luck everyone.

[jdya]

hi.it seems like the majority of people on lyrica gained weight.what is in it that causes weight gain.ive worked very hard to lose 42 pounds ths year and now im on 100mg of lyrica for my sciaitic nerve.ive only taken in for 2 days but im extremely tired and weak.is weight gain the first side affect and what can i do so i dont gain.thanks for any info.

[jlc5155]

Thank you for the "good luck" wish.  I hope the neurontin works, too, after I got home from work last night, both of my legs were swollen again.  I got put back on my water pill full time so I hope that it helps with the fluid retention, if that's why they are swollen.  The neurontin is taking it time working,  very slow, not like the quick acting Lyrica.  My hands hurt a lot yesterday.  I used a remedy that I use for a headache but never thought of for my hands or any other body as far as that goes.  I rubbed my hands with Aspercreme then wrap them in hot moist towels that I heat in the microwave.  It works.  Not for a long period of time, but for a quick fix it's great.  My boss didn't like it that I was doing it on his time, he said if I hurt that bad I should go home.  Ahhh....another compassionate soul.  Jerk!  Hope you are doing well.........JLC

[slickaroo]

Im sorry you had all the side effects from Lyrica..I hope the new meds work well for you...so far i have no bad side effects for Lyrica..just a little dizzy now and then...nothing big..wish you luck.........Slickaroo

[jlc5155]

I started taking the Lyrica on Dec.12th or 13th.  I started slow and worked up to 150mg a day.  I gained 7lbs. in one week.  I have a heart condition so I started weaning myself off of it on my drs advice.  My legs looked like water balloons with a sock indentation.  My hands were so swollen I couldn't write.  I had all of the bad side effects.   My dr. put me on neurontin last Friday and I'm hoping for no side effects.  None so far, but it seems like it takes a lot longer to kick in for pain relief.  The pain was gone with the Lyrica but the side effects were not worth it.  Hope all of you on the Lyrica have better luck then I did.