Lyrica.. Then Gabapentine

[Cann1980]

I have the hug bothering me quite bad lately

I tried lyrica and my hands and feet went puffy and my stomach looked huge!! I gained 8 lbs in 2 days .. Wow not for me I guess.

Monday I will get better next step answers but wondering how Gabapentin has worked for others.. I am Leary about trying more medicine... But desperate for the squeeze of death to go away!!!

Cheers to all!!
Cann

[Cann1980]

Thanks Corrie!
I am getting through so far... I am very hopeful for g

[Corriel]

Oh Cann, I am sorry you had to go the steroid route again. Maybe it will be more like the first time and not the last time?

I am glad you have the trip to look forward to.

I hope G works better for you than Rebif!

Corrie

[Cann1980]

Well I can't go on Gabapentin .. Since I swelled so badly on lyrica it is too high risk for Gabapentin too I guess

My last resort is steroids .. Day one today .. I just want to tear up .. You all know how much I don't like steroids :(
I am going to be so out of sorts the next 2 weeks
But... Positive side:
-I am going to Cuba in a month.. I will feel great then
-I will have hopefully a few week remission like the last times after the hard two weeks
-my pain will all go away (hopefully)
- I am starting Gilenya on Thursday .. Maybe this will be my last steroids :) ever?!?  <~ this would be best thing ever!!!
- I have hope..
- I am in good spirits

[SarahL2491]

Everyone has given you great advice!  Spasms and Pain are different and require different meds most of the time.  I take Baclofen for spasms and it works great and neurontin (gabapentin) for pain and find the combination works for me.

The only thing that makes me hungry is steroids!  So the week I am on steroids, I usually gain a few pounds.

[Cann1980]

I don't even know if Gabapentin is even my next option really ... I just think that it should be my next try to see med since I never even really got to try the lyrica with the puffiness stoping me. Does that make sense?

I thought the aspect of spasam vs neuropathic pain is it normal to try to fix with neuropathic pain med first before spasam pain ? How do we know the difference?

The pain I have I am thinking is a possibility of a flare with the intensity (I think this is a month long on going flare.. Or longer ?!?!?)
I am still avoiding steroids bc of side effects.... I am just so confused with what to do sometimes. I feel like I am always batteling something lately :( ugh the annoyance!!!

[Cann1980]

Thank you.. I know I kind of have to try it we are so different but you all give the best insight on all of these new to me things!! S

[Guitar_grrrl]

Alex is right re:Baclofen or Xanaflex for spasms.  I've tried Gabapentin and Trileptal, too, and they're great for nerve pain.  The dreaded "Hug we all Hate" is essentially a big intercostal muscle(s) spasm.  I deal with it myself, and it's truly awful!  Baclofen helps me, but doesn't keep all the spasms at bay.  I just kind of live with it. : /

[HVAC]

Everyone is different. I have been on almost all the medications over the years. It is trial and error. What works for me might not work for you. I finally went to a pain clinic. The Neurologist kept adding drugs before the pain clinic until I was on 4 anti seizures at once plus a bunch of others. Now I take fewer drugs.  If you are having spasms you might need something like Baclofen or Zanaflex anti spasm drugs. Lyrica and Gabepentin are for nerve pain. If Gabepentin does not work there is Trileptal.  I like Trileptal the best. Many times MS patients need anti spasmatics and drugs for nerve pain.

Alex

[Cann1980]

I would guess the lyrica is making you hungry Kyle! From everything I have googled I could find hungry people :(

I only took 25mg 1x per day for 3 days and I puffed up like a balloon...  I don't think mine had anything to do with eating I guess but I was starving!!!

I honestly don't care about 10 lbs or so anyway.. I am already chubby so it is what it is... I will take it to get rid of  this pain if I could. My ms nurse said not a good idea to keep going on lyrica :/

So Monday my doc is back and I am only assuming that I will be trying Gabapentin next
I am glad you all had it work for you!!

[kwarendorf]

I was lamenting to my GF about my inability to loose the ten (or so...) pounds i put on over the holidays. It was about that time that I switched from gabapentin to Lyrica. For a awhile I was taking both, as we ramped one up and the other down.

The Lyrica works for my foot pain now. The gaba worked at first but stopped after about 18 months. The gaba was at 3600mg/day and the Lyrica is at 300mg/day. I'm also taking 75mg/day of amitriptilyne.

Now back to my 10 pounds, could it be the Lyrica that's making me hungry?

Kyle

[essdipity]

Hi. As with everything MS, your mileage may vary. I too gained weight from Lyrica if I as much as thought about food, it seems, and ultimately I got off the med. For nearly a year now I've been on Gabapentin (Neurontin), and although I haven't gained weight I haven't been able to lose much either, despite a reasonable effort.

For me, both drugs have worked equally well, which is to say I've had some relief of pain but not a whole lot. I was on 450 mg of Lyrica, and then 1500 mg at night with Gabapentin. I could go higher but I really don't want to. Too many meds as it is.

ess