weaning off lyrica

[trish699]

I am suffering from nerve damage from an angiogram performed last July. I am currently on 50 mg of Lyrica, down from 75. Less pain relief than from 75but somewhat tolerable, as long as I don't do much.When I dropped to 50mg,however, I had a huge spike in my pain. The second night after dropping to 25mg, I suffered the attack of the hot pokers, actually on the top of the thigh which was not subject to acute pain before and also in my right foot (shocking). I had a lot of discomfort before trying Lyrica (severe side effects at 100mg though), but due to the fact that I can't tolerate gabapentin or nortriptyline, Lyrica seemed my only option. Is the spike in pain a temporary adjustment to dose reduction, or has Lyrica totally screwed up my nervous system? Would taking 25mg every other day be an option? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Does anybody else suffer from angiogram related nerve pain???

[Tuckamore]

It is normal to experience what is termed "rebound pain" when ever you stop a narcotic or similar type of pain controlling medication.

This rebound pain can last for three days or up to three weeks. However most know where their pain is going to level out at within 10 to 12 days after taking the last tablet.

I have used Cymbalta. I have horrid problems with tricyclic antidepressants but did not have any of the usual side effects with Cymbalta.I have extreme sciatica.  I can't say it helped my pain levels. It certainly changed my mood. I had been feeling very worthless after chronic pain forced me to give up my beloved career. Shortly after taking the Cymbalta (5-6 days) I no longer felt worthless.....but I didn't "feel" any thing at all.

So I am not afraid of the drug and would take it again if I had to take something. I just wanted my feelings back.

~Tuck

[trish699]

Thanks for the input. A woman in my pain group suffers from the same nerve pain. She had a root canal procedure gone wrong. She uses gaba, but also uses celexa. Combined, they help.She isn't bothered by side effects of gaba. I could not take that drug at all...back pain, tooth pain, migraines you name it. Do you use an antidepressant?If so, does it help   withyour nerve pain? My dr keeps trying to give me Cymbalta, but I'm scared to try it. Take care.

[jamlws]

Sorry about your pain. I don't suffer from angiogram but I have taken gabapentin for nerve pain in my face from a crazy dentist not knowing what she was doing. Anyway I can't even take the gabapentin it messes with me BADLY. from what I have heard lyrica is better then gabapentin but I guess it depends on the person. Have you talked to your doctor about how to lower your meds? If not that would be the way to go cause it is safe to take to someone who would know how to do it and what warning signs to watch for cause i know you can't just stop gabapentin I have to just keep lowering the dose. My doctor told me to stop it all at once but I didn't. I was talking 8 pills a day 2 at a time so I went from 2 at a time to 1 and then started taking out a dose a day until I was off of them. Gabapentin is what I like to call the devil pill, it does nothing but mess me up. Good luck to you,
Jamie