For those on Lyrica

[essdipity]

How high is your dose? How much pain relief are you getting? Just a rough percentage would be helpful.

Of major interest---How fast did you taper upward?
I started at 75mg/day, and can increase only 75 a week, up to a max of 600. But I'm still at 150 and nowhere near good pain relief. Not supposed to increase again till Thurs.

Comments and experiences most gratefully received.

ess

[HVAC]

The lyrica worked well for me but was pricey. I switched to generic trileptal. It took a long time for it to really work, months. Now it works well. I notice if I am late taking it.

Lyrica also made me a bit spacey. I remember driving through a red light and thinking wow I just ran a red light.

I think different things work for different people.

I am sorry you are in so much pain.

Alex

[essdipity]

Thanks all of you.

I called the pain management practice and ultimately talked to the NP whom I saw last time. What a cold piece of work!

Anyway, she grudgingly told me I could increase at 5 day intervals as long as I don't have side effects. I'm not having any, except I'm starved all the time. Have been watching this carefully, and I bought a bunch of veggies and fat-free Greek yogurt for when I just have to have a snack. Can mix the yogurt with various seasonings to make a dip.

One of the previous pain meds I was on was Topamax. It made me sick, but it also totally took away my appetite. If only I could combine the two effects, eliminating the bad!

Meanwhile the pain continues bad. but I'm hoping for some improvement.

Thanks again,
ess

[addicted2harleys]

I currently take 600mg of Lyrica a day...200mg three times a day.  I have been on it for almost a year.  I started out with 150mg two times a day.  I guess my doc didn't taper because I had been on 4800mg Gabapentin a day...and switched to the Lyrica.   My pain management doctor just doubled my dose last week....making it 600mg a day now.

I found the Lyrica helped make my pain a manageable level, like a 4 or a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.  I still have the nerve pain, but nothing like when I don't have the Lyrica....with none, my nerve pain hits a 10 and sometimes beyond.

If you aren't experiencing any side effects or only minimal side effects, I don't see why you couldn't go ahead and increase now.  

Hugs,
Addi

[torikat32]

Ess,

I am on lyrica 300mg a day I was up to 900mg a day but decreased the dosage for suspected
body tremors though I feel it wasnt from the lyrica.

It keeps my pain at a tolerable level I was uping dosages every few months but have been on the 300mg for awhile now I have tried to go off it doing a tapering dose over 2 weeks but 3 days after stopping the med I woke up with pins and needles from the waist down cant function like that so now I am back on it till we can find another med. I have been on lyrica for 4 years now and its been a godsend but its not working like it used too.

In my opionin I would increase again 2 days wont make a difference but may help you to be more comfortable just keep track of any side effects or worsening of any problems

Best of Luck
Kat

[figuerpa]

Ess,

I am on lyrica, I take 2 75mg three times a day. I am at 450mg per day and it seems to keep the pain at a tolerable level. It doesn't take it away completely but I am greatful it keeps it to a minumum. It also helps with the burning. Pain I can deal with for the most part but the feeling of fire within my body is not something I can deal with at all.

I started out on 75mg twice a day and increase to 3 times a day then it started getting out of control (the pain) and he increased it to 2 75 mg three times a day.

I guess its good to gradually increase due to not knowing how it is going to affect you but when I increased the last time it was a 225mg increase at once and I was fine, the only thing bad about lyrica for me is the weight gain. Normally all I have to do is take one bite of food and it attaches itself to my body now all I have to do is look at it. But I am working on that.

Wishing you luck for some pain relief,
Paula