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Original poster

Talk to me about Lyrica

36 replies

orangeflutie · 25/03/2015 16:29

Hi I've just been prescribed Lyrica for nerve pain. I've been taking other painkillers but they have little effect and the pain is really starting to get me down. I'm considering taking the Lyrica but have read the leaflet and the list of side effects and I'm really worried.

How bad are the side effects and more importantly does it work?
Would really appreciate advice and experiences. Thank youSmile

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MatildaTheCat · 25/03/2015 18:19

I don't take Lyrica but gabapentin which is very similar but cheaper so Lyrica is considered better by many. Yes,there are side effects, mainly feeling pretty zen and dopey for a while. You start at a very low dose and can increase very, very slowly as you get used to it. The side effects do largely improve though not go away for me and other friends.

However, it's efficacy is for me a no brainer. It works and I will continue to take it. If you eat carefully there is no reason to gain weight.

If you do decide to try it you really have to be prepared to go slowly and be patient with both the side effects and the pain control. After say three months if you aren't happy then review. Good luck, I hope you find it helpful.

Fab41 · 25/03/2015 18:27

I take it for fibromyalgia, just increased from 20mg to 40mg. I do need to be careful with eating as it does increase my appetite, but I have been low carbing and this has helped to stabilise my weight.
It does help pain levels, but I am waiting for the increased dose to take effect.
Quite spaced out for the first week or two, but it does settle.
Be kind to yourself.

Original poster
orangeflutie · 25/03/2015 18:40

Thanks for your replies, I'm getting to the point (tonight) when I may be brave and give it a go. Constant pain is making me miserable. Trouble is DH isn't back from work yet and I'll need to go out shortly to drive dds 2 and 3 to Guides. I'm going to try and hold on until he gets back just in case it makes me really dozy.

I'm also on 75mg dosulepin for anxiety and depression so presuming they'll mix ok as dosulepin makes me sleepy too.

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Original poster
orangeflutie · 26/03/2015 10:02

Well I took one 25mg tablet about 9 last night. Felt a bit wobbly but went to bed quite soon after. Eyes felt strange when I got up in the middle of the night but otherwise ok. Also took a codydramol before bed but have been taking those for a while.

Not sure what to do today as need to drive to the physics so will maybe take another Lyrica later this afternoon. I want the pain to go but I have to function as a mum too so quite worried about it allHmm

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Original poster
orangeflutie · 26/03/2015 10:03

physios

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CMOTDibbler · 26/03/2015 12:05

It can take weeks for the side effects of Lyrica to settle down, and you do need to escalate it up slowly.

It didn't make me dozy, but did make me slur my words, and unfortunatly that didn't wear off

Original poster
orangeflutie · 26/03/2015 14:06

Slurring not good. How long were you on it for CMot?

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CMOTDibbler · 26/03/2015 14:29

I took it for 6 months before deciding that my pain relief wasn't worth the slurring. Which wasn't horrendous, but I do a lot of public speaking and was v self conscious of it

Original poster
orangeflutie · 26/03/2015 18:39

Yes that's the dilemma I don't want the pain but I want to be able to lead a relatively normal life. I'm frightened of it changing me too much.

Was it difficult to come off after six months?

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MatildaTheCat · 26/03/2015 22:07

The word problems are difficult, no way round it. But I have found that I've eventually improved plus others around me are used to my ways ( vague and word searching but not all the time). For me, it's been worth it. Nerve pain is vile and we don't seem to have any very much better alternatives.
I hope it works for you in the longer term.

Original poster
orangeflutie · 27/03/2015 13:04

Matilda yes the pain is vile. I seem to be able to just about cope with it in the day but by the evening it's as if someone's turned up a volume switch and my neck and arm start burningHmm

I've taken two 25mg Lyrica today so far. Not sure how quickly it will work so carrying on with other meds as well for the time being.

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Fab41 · 27/03/2015 17:51

I was mixed up, I was on 50mg at night, and now take the same again in the morning. The increase hasn't helped with pain levels yet, but I think it takes a while to build up in your system.
I hope it settles down for you.

CMOTDibbler · 27/03/2015 20:46

It wasn't hard to come off, no.

I have CRPS, so its response to anything isn't great, so I just have to manage it with really diligent physio/desensitisation/ telling it to bog off else I really will cut it off and leave it to hurt on its own

Original poster
orangeflutie · 27/03/2015 21:55

Thank you. Today is my first day of taking 25mg three times a day and so far I haven't had any side effects other than feeling tired but I've been exhausted for weeks now anyway. I'm just waiting for it to work really.

Glad it wasn't a problem to come off CMot and interesting reading about the physio. Mine says that I need to think of it as a pointless pain and try not to give it too much attention. I do try but by the evening I can't do it anymore.

I normally like to run but want to make sure I feel ok to with all the drugs I'm taking. I do need to run though otherwise I just feel miserable. Just hoping it all settles down soon.

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EmNetta · 27/03/2015 22:04

About six months ago, I reduced MST and replaced some of it with Lyrika, which I understand can be increased if necessary . Looking back, I don't recall any side effects, apart from possibly hunting for words, which has definitely got worse but might be due to increasing age.
Personally, I'm glad to have it, particularly remembering a trial of Gabapentin years ago at the Pain Clinic, which definitely did give me problems.

Reading the accompanying leaflet is always a bit worrying, orangeflutie, something like checking the house survey before purchase, but I hope you benefit from this medicine, and soon.

Original poster
orangeflutie · 27/03/2015 22:23

Just lying in bed now waiting for the codydramol to kick in and for the pain to settle. I'm hoping for a good night and feeling a bit more relaxed about taking the Lyrica now. Thanks againSmile

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WheresTheHoneyMummy · 27/03/2015 22:29

I've been on lyrica for about 16 months now - for CRPS. Started at 300mg a day then had to increase by 25mg a week until I got to 600mg a day, but just couldn't get past 550mg. My current pain management doctor suggested I decrease the dose by 25mg a week as she thinks the side effects out weigh the benefits for me. I've put on so much weight, despite watching what I eat. Panic attacks, anxiety, brain fog, memory loss - have to be the worse side effects for me. Saying that, I know someone who takes it with no side effects and it really helps their pain.

CMOTDibbler · 28/03/2015 08:30

I think there are a few of us. Mine is in one arm after an accident which caused a huge amount of damage to that arm. I've had crps for nearly 5 years now Sad

Original poster
orangeflutie · 28/03/2015 11:12

CMOTSad sorry about your accident, must be hard to live with so much pain for so long. I've only had my pain for five weeks which is early days but I don't think I'm coping very well. I'm worried it won't go and I'll be stuck with it forever??. I'm trying very hard to banish that thought but it's still there. Like lots of people I like being active, I'm quite fit and enjoy exercise and already I can feel all that slipping away. I'm scared I'm going to end up fat and sluggish??

Sorry for the moan I feel bad as lots of you on here have an awful lot to put up with. I think it's probably because I'm not getting much support. On the positive side I slept until nearly 9 this morning which is unheard of. Guess I'm just going to have to take it one day at a time.

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Original poster
orangeflutie · 28/03/2015 11:13

WherestheHoney sorry it's so hard for you tooHmm Hope you manage to find the right dose to manage your pain.

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Original poster
orangeflutie · 29/03/2015 15:40

I think the pain seemed to be a bit less yesterday. Today I think it's been creeping back in a bit though. I've been taking 75mg Lyrica since Friday. Is this still early days or do I need to ask for the dose to be increased?

I'm also still taking some diclofenac but managed without the codydramol last night.

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CMOTDibbler · 29/03/2015 16:19

Its still early days - I seem to remember that my dosage went up in 25mg increments for weeks.

And 5 weeks is very early days in crps terms. I was screaming in pain at that point (I was in plaster for a very long time so couldn't touch my arm), but my physio did recognise it and fortunatly she knew a lot about management. I also was able to have acupuncture with her, and that was amazing at turning the pain down when nothing but morphine did. I'd really recommend it, and am totally not a woo person.

On the bright side, although I would cheerfully have my arm amputated at times still (again, note that its non functional, so different from a working painful limb), I am very active and do triathlons. Strangely, proper pain distracts me from the crps, and I've been told by the physios that exercise helps to manage the pain as well as increasing blood flow and helping bone density

itsmeitscathy · 29/03/2015 16:32

I had it with few problems although it didn't help the pain at all. I had it for post op post chemo nerve pain. Moved onto duloxetine and nortryptaline now. It's worth asking if the pills you're taking for anxiety can be swapped to something which also treats nerve pain (these two are anti depressants but I take them for pain)

Original poster
orangeflutie · 29/03/2015 18:18

I agree about exercise helping with pain. I actually went for a run this morning. I enjoy it and don't want to have to give it up. When I run I only get a bit of discomfort fir the first half a mile and then the pain goes completely. Unfortunately it comes back when I stop and I might have aggravated things by running today. However the running helps me to cope both physically and mentally.

A friend of mine mentioned acupuncture so I might well give it a go. I'll try anything!

I don't know if I mentioned before but I'm on an AD (dosulepin) which I've been taking since November and I think it also helps pain in low doses. I currently take 75mg but have been reading that this should be monitored when taking Lyrica due to the risk of respiratory depression. I may ask if I can reduce the dose which I was going to do before all this pain started but obviously don't want my mood lowered too much either.

Looks like I may have to give it a bit longer before I ask for more Lyrica though. Thank youSmile

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itsmeitscathy · 29/03/2015 23:45

Good luck. Have you tried a tens machine? It can help back pain.

I was recommended low impact exercise - I found yoga quite good.

Hope you find something that works, I'm back in June to try something else. The pain clinic wait times are crazy

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