Lyrica for nerve pain

[ClopySow]

Has anybody taken this?

I've been on dihydracodeine for a month for shoulder pain. They think it's a pinched nerve in my neck and the dihydracodeine doesn't really do much for nerve pain. I've been prescribed lyrica. The leaflet and side effects look a bit scarey.

[ClopySow]

Bollocks. I thought this was chat.

Aibu for being scared of lyrica?

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

It's fab. Have been on it for several years. Pregabalin or gabapentin?

[ClopySow]

Oooh!

Pregabalin.

[Iamaslummymummy]

Works wonders for me

[HHH3]

Pregabalin is amazing!

[Thattimeofyearagain]

Wellll, It is good, but have me marked memory loss and cognitive processing problems.

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

Pregabalin here too. What dose have you been put on? Even a low dose can have an amazing effect.

It did contribute to my weight gain (but am on two other meds that are well known for that, so it wasn't responsible by itself), but honestly it's the best pain med I've ever taken.

Really hope it helps

[ClopySow]

Okay. Well i've been thick as mince on the dihydracodeine anyway. I keep finding oxo cubes in the medicine cupboard and i tried to put some washing in the oven. Is it worse than that?

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

Lyrica is pregabalin, isn't it? Side effects way better / lesser for me than gabapentin was. I was properly spacey on that!!
I've now been on pregabalin for about 5 or 6 months, after about 18 months on gabapentin. I had 2 herniated discs, surgery, and now permanent nerve damage. It makes a huge difference to my pain levels. However, I take it in conjunction with naproxen, co-codamol & nortriptyline. Topped up with occasional OxyContin.
I would say, I didn't trust myself to take the pregabalin and drive immediately, so took it once I got to work, and then again with dinner. The side effects have definitely worn off now, and I wouldn't be without it.

[CMOTDibbler]

YANBU for being scared by the leaflet. The thing with lyrica and pregbaline is that people get all sorts of different side effects, and they do have to list them all - and no one can tell who will get what.
Pregbaline made me feel terribly nauseous all the time, so I couldn't cope with it. Lyrica did help with the pain, though I haven't taken it long term as it slurs my speech. But try it - I know people for whom these drugs are life changing

[CMOTDibbler]

Gah, typed pregbaline when I meant gabapentin...

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

Should say I sometimes 'lose' words, and struggle with that, but that is definitely lesser than it was at the start.
I should say - no driving on the OxyContin if you take that!!!

[ClopySow]

50mg twice a day

The pain has been excrutiating. Has brought me to tears more than once. It's worst when i walk for more than about 5 minutes. I can't get to see a physio on nhs until 10th april so have been seeing a chiropractor but i really can't afford to keep doing it.

[ClopySow]

Booze is a no-no with it isn't it? I haven't been drinking anyway because of the dihydracodeine so it's no huge deal.

[WhiffyBiffer]

I found it fab for pain from trapped nerve. Yes side effects but not unpleasant really (bit trippy) and miles better than the pain. It enabled me to function tho couldn't drive for a few days after starting and each time I upped dose. I did have to increase dose a few times but have just stopped taking it having gradually reduced over a couple of weeks.

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

Yeah supposedly a no-no....
I've drunk a few times on it though. It effects me more, but a couple glasses of fizz at a wedding, or a beer at the rugby aren't going to kill me.
You are amongst kindred spirits here - no-one understands nerve pain until you've had it. It's just relentless.
I'm so sorry you're experiencing this though. Is it worth seeing a private physio? I'm having private 1:1 pilates sessions on top of my physio & pain clinic (there's a LONG saga) and finding as a combo they're helping.
Hope you get some relief soon.

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

Oh, I'm on a fairly high dose - 300mg twice a day. When/if you step it up each time, you'll notice it.

[ClopySow]

The chiropractor is really helping, he's brilliant. I'll stick with him until i get to the physio.

[ConfuciousSayWhat]

I don't get on with it but love gabapentin which is a similar drug

[pasturesgreen]

Going slightly against the grain here: I was on pregabalin for around six months in 2014 and was a textbook case for side effects.

I put on weight, became lethargic to the point of falling asleep at work, was irritable, jumpy and constantly on edge. It did help a bit with the pain, however I was feeling crap and was signed off work for three months while I was weaned off the medication.

I suffered horrendous withdrawal symptoms while they were gradually reducing dosage. I couldn't sleep, had hallucinations, wept constantly and just vegged on the sofa all day. I only got up to eat, as I was ravenous all the time, otherwise I honestly don't think I'd have summed up the will to leave that sofa.

So yes, adverse reactions can be pretty extreme. I appreciate lots of people find Lyrica helpful, however it was most definitely not for me!

[ClopySow]

Fuck.

Right well i'll keep an eye out for that then. Sounds awful for you.

Did you get an alternative for the pain?

[ConfuciousSayWhat]

I piled on 4 Stone in 6 months on it so be mindful of your weight

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

I think it's amazing for some and rubbish for others with not much in between.

But the only way you'll know is to try it and see.

After a bad experience with a GP doing it very unscientifically, I'd definitely recommend starting on one drug at a time, slowly going up in dose, starting at the lowest possible, and taking your time so you know what has caused what.

I came off 2700mg of gabapentin & 75ug of fentanyl, plus oramorph, and duloxitine, in the first badly managed experience. I felt SO much better after, turned out the symptoms that the GP keep increasing the dose for, were in fact side effects from the medicine itself (ffs)... The heart palpitations, pains in limbs, sweating, restless legs, confusion, brain fog & memory issues, depression and anxiety... Yup all the scary side effects. Particularly from the gabapentin & duloxitine, and it scared me off that family of drugs for a long time, so I had to keep taking lots of opiates instead which isn't good either.

Now I'm under a much more informed and sensible doc (GP & specialist), and so I'm trying Pregabalin (lyrica). But, I'm not scared about trying again, as this time is it being done in a completely different way. I am coming to the conclusion that there are no bad drugs, just bad (ill informed) HCPs!

So bearing in mind my previous experiences, I started on 25mg once a day, much lower than the normal starting dose but am being very cautious nowadays. Then 25mg x 2 a day, 50mg & 25mg, then 50 mg x2 a day. I stopped there for ages as the dry mouth and nose bleeds were not great, but slowly going up to 75mg as apparently, you can get side effects at one strength which don't occur at another strength. I think my mood might be suffering but it's hard to tell ... I plod onwards!

Apparently the loading dose is around 75 mg so I'm defo playing in the shallow end :)

I'd recommend keeping a diary so you can track pros and cons, as it can be very hard to look back & remember accurately especially if you're feeling very tired of fuzzy. Also asking anyone close to you if they notice any differences (+ or -) can be handy.

[ClopySow]

I think it's going to be hard to tell as i'll be staying on, then easing myself off the dihydracodeine.

Sigh. Pain is very painful. It's wearing really thin.

[ClopySow]

Out of interest, can you remember how long it took to start having an effect? The dr reckoned 7 - 10 days