Experiences with Lyrica?

[lovetoscrap]

Dr started me on a pretty low dose of Lyrica (50mg 2x day) and I am HATING it. The first day I took it I was stoned--seriously high as a kite and could not function at all. I can't be like that when I have to take kids places and be a responsible parent. I took it at night only for about 5 days and it was hard to wake up in the morning and I have had a wicked headache. Took a few days off of it because I couldn't stand it.

I took it again today (since it is a weekend and DH can be in charge) and I am not as bad as the first day but still loopy, spacey, and sleepy and the headache is just as bad as the foot and ankle pain I am taking it for. Ibuprofen for the headache isn't helping.

If I keep taking it will my body adjust? Has anyone been through this rough period and got through it and found it to be worth it? I don't really have time to take it for a few weeks to see what happens, I have to be able to drive and function on the week days. I had planned to take it for the 3 day weekend and see if that helps but I am so miserable I just don't want to take it again.

 

[MzDiz]

I wish I could say something positive about it for you. I made it three days before I couldn't stand it anymore and even after I quit, I had a weird, random tremor thing in my legs that lasted for months.

 

[Ohiodislover]

DH had some of the same things at the beginning, although maybe not as bad as you are describing. But they subsided and he found much better relieve than with neurontin. He uses it for diabetic neuropathy. Hopefully the same will happen with you. Good luck

 

[erincon23]

My mom was on Lyrica for several months, adn she said the loopy feeling went away for the most part, but she felt fairly spacy the entire time she was on it. She said the pain went away immediately. Recently, the dr. wanted to try my DS on Lyrica, but the copay was too much for us, so he prescribed Gabapentin -- it's in the same drug family, but is much cheaper and has far fewer side effects (it didn't help my DS, but that was more the nature of his problem and not the drug). If you can't stand the Lyrica, ask your dr. about Gabapentin.

Erin

 

[N&B'smom]

My DH took it and gained about 35lbs and had horrible issues with his legs. It was horrible, he stopped taking it and will never take it again.

 

[jazzielady]

I've been on Lyrica now for over 3 years with great success. I can't tell you about initial side effects, because it was right after my back surgery and I was on all kinds of meds that made me loopy.

I take 75mg. 3x's day, one in the am and 2 right before bed.

ETA: I took gabapentin (generic neurontin) and it did nothing for me.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Thanks. I took Neurontin for quite awhile when I had my surgeries and it didn't seem to do anything. I knew about the weigh gain issue but was prepared to deal with that, but I can't stand this drugged up feeling and the headache.

I can't face taking another pill tonight. We start Swim Team practices on Tuesday so I literally will not have ANY weekdays where I won't have to drive until September. I can't take a few weeks to see if this gets better. And this was just a shot in the dark from my dr anyway so I will call him Tuesday and tell him I just can't take this medicine.

 

[heatherwillmom]

I've prescribed Lyrica for several patients. Many do have pretty bad side affects at first, but the majority say that they go away after a while. Neurontin, which is the brand name for Gabapentin, is made by the same company. Over all, most patients experience more sedation from Neurontin.

 

[Tweevil]

I took it for a while, did nothing for me. Well except for a throbbing headache and loss of memory.

I went off of it after giving it about 3 weeks.

Took it for Fibro and diabetic neuropathy issues.

 

[SeaSpray]

I just started back on Lyrica yesterday, so I'm right there with you with the "stoned" feeling. LOL

I took Lyrica a couple of years ago and it did help. I was on it for about a year and then I went off of it (I stopped abruptly and didn't realize that the bad headaches that I experienced every day for the next 2 weeks were a result of that! ). It's been about a year and a half since then, and my fibromyalgia has been acting up for the last several months, so I figured it was time to go back on it.

I did experience this high feeling when I first started it the last time which is why I decided to start it during this long weekend, this time. I remember that the stoned feeling went away within a week. Back then I was taking 50mg once a day (I took it at bedtime) but now I'm on 75mg twice a day, so I think it might take a little longer for my body to get used to it. On Tuesday, I plan on taking it AFTER I get to work.

If you have to drive a lot, then I totally understand your not wanting to continue with the Lyrica. There's no way I could drive today at all. In fact, this afternoon I was weed-wacking our front yard and almost fell into the street in front of a car because I got dizzy and lost my balance. I was almost a squished SeaSpray today. Not really funny, but it is....

I hope you get some relief from your fibromyalgia, scrap.

 

[KPeveler]

lyrica definitely helps me, but i had to find the amount that would not make me loopy. I also use it for hypersensitivity more than pain, so that may have made a difference.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I just started back on Lyrica yesterday, so I'm right there with you with the "stoned" feeling. LOL

IThere's no way I could drive today at all. In fact, this afternoon I was weed-wacking our front yard and almost fell into the street in front of a car because I got dizzy and lost my balance. I was almost a squished SeaSpray today. Not really funny, but it is....

I hope you get some relief from your fibromyalgia, scrap.

Not for fibro, for my feet. IIRC you have had PF issues that we have talked about before? After 3 surgeries for PF and Tarsal Tunnel I am still miserable and really unable to walk/stand for more than about 20 mins. I saw a new dr (I think this makes Dr. number 7 ) and he thinks that the problems are now nerve related. I was warned that the surgeries could cause nerve damage. I finally had an MRI on Friday so can't wait to see what that shows.


I am not even sure that the Lyrica was helping me. I was way too out of it to even tell and since the issue is not being able to walk when I can't even stand it doesn't help much. I don't sleep well because the pain wakes me up. The pain wasn't waking me up but I am not sure if that was just because I was unconscious from the meds.

It sounds like this is a really hit or miss drug. Always interesting how some people have really bad side effects and others don't.

I was on Ultram for awhile about a year ago and it took me a few weeks to adjust to but it just made me spacey and loopy so it wasn't so bad, and it was at a time of year I could clear my schedule and stay home for a few weeks. The horrible headache and just feeling overall miserable with Lyrica isn't worth it.

 

[SeaSpray]

Not for fibro, for my feet. IIRC you have had PF issues that we have talked about before? After 3 surgeries for PF and Tarsal Tunnel I am still miserable and really unable to walk/stand for more than about 20 mins. I saw a new dr (I think this makes Dr. number 7 ) and he thinks that the problems are now nerve related. I was warned that the surgeries could cause nerve damage. I finally had an MRI on Friday so can't wait to see what that shows.


I am not even sure that the Lyrica was helping me. I was way too out of it to even tell and since the issue is not being able to walk when I can't even stand it doesn't help much. I don't sleep well because the pain wakes me up. The pain wasn't waking me up but I am not sure if that was just because I was unconscious from the meds.

It sounds like this is a really hit or miss drug. Always interesting how some people have really bad side effects and others don't.

I was on Ultram for awhile about a year ago and it took me a few weeks to adjust to but it just made me spacey and loopy so it wasn't so bad, and it was at a time of year I could clear my schedule and stay home for a few weeks. The horrible headache and just feeling overall miserable with Lyrica isn't worth it.

Oh that's right, plantar fasciitis! (I have the tri-fecta of PF, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. ). I've gotten no relief at all from the pain of PF, even after all this time. I'm nervous about the surgery because of the exact thing you mentioned. My PCP advised me that unless I can't walk at all or get through a normal day, then avoid the surgery. I have a desk job, so I don't have to do a lot of walking in a typical day. As for food shopping or walking around a mall, I'm good for only about a half hour to an hour. Usually my DS does the food shopping for me.

We'll be at Disney World 5 weeks from tomorrow, and I'll be renting a scooter, just like on my last few trips. DH just had a massive heart attack last week, so we'll be taking it easy on this trip anyway.

Scrap, I'm so sorry for all of the pain you've been having to endure.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Oh that's right, plantar fasciitis! (I have the tri-fecta of PF, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. ). I've gotten no relief at all from the pain of PF, even after all this time. I'm nervous about the surgery because of the exact thing you mentioned. My PCP advised me that unless I can't walk at all or get through a normal day, then avoid the surgery. I have a desk job, so I don't have to do a lot of walking in a typical day. As for food shopping or walking around a mall, I'm good for only about a half hour to an hour. Usually my DS does the food shopping for me.

We'll be at Disney World 5 weeks from tomorrow, and I'll be renting a scooter, just like on my last few trips. DH just had a massive heart attack last week, so we'll be taking it easy on this trip anyway.

Scrap, I'm so sorry for all of the pain you've been having to endure.

OMG! I am so sorry to hear about your husband. How is he doing?

I have to agree with your Dr, you have to be desperate to have the surgery, and I was. I had cryosurgery first and it didn't help at all in fact things got worse. I was completely wheelchair bound for the months before the PF Release. I couldn't put any weight on my feet without unbearable pain. Things did get better after that but never great.

I bought my own ECV probably about 2 years ago. I got very luck to find a great model for resale at my local mobility store that was within my budget. Before that I was really homebound and going crazy. As much as I hate having to use it, I have done much better being able to get out and about.

This new dr is now talking about maybe doing a nerve block. I am supposed to go and see a neurologist-- definitely taking a completely different approach.

 

[SeaSpray]

OMG! I am so sorry to hear about your husband. How is he doing?

I have to agree with your Dr, you have to be desperate to have the surgery, and I was. I had cryosurgery first and it didn't help at all in fact things got worse. I was completely wheelchair bound for the months before the PF Release. I couldn't put any weight on my feet without unbearable pain. Things did get better after that but never great.

I bought my own ECV probably about 2 years ago. I got very luck to find a great model for resale at my local mobility store that was within my budget. Before that I was really homebound and going crazy. As much as I hate having to use it, I have done much better being able to get out and about.

This new dr is now talking about maybe doing a nerve block. I am supposed to go and see a neurologist-- definitely taking a completely different approach.

Thanks, DH is doing Ok. He had 2 stents put in. He was fortunate that he went to the doctor because he wasn't feeling well. He thought it was a breathing problem. And fortunately the Dr hooked him to an EKG because he was having a heart attack right then and there. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they did emergency surgery. He was doing fine that first night but the next morning at 6am he had complications from the heart attack so they had to helicopter him in to Boston. He's been home for a few days now and is doing very well. He'll be out of work for a couple of months, and going through a cardiac rehab program. All of the doctors that we've seen have said he should be fine for a vacation to WDW in 5 weeks, as long as he doesn't have any more issues between now and then, and as long as we take it easy. We're not park commandos anyway.

I often think of looking into buying an ECV, but I'm not quite at the point where I really need one just for my daily life yet. I'm glad that you got one so that you won't be stuck at home all the time. If I was at that point, I'd definitely get one.

Scrap, I hope that this new doctor can help you. Let us know how it goes.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

funny seeing this post! I just picked up a whole bottle, it is sitting in my cabinet, and I cannot bring myself to take it! I cannot stand anything that makes me feel like I "lose control" I need to feel myself totally! So I guess it will be sitting here!

 

[emcclay]

My mom was on Lyrica for a few days and hated it! Like many of the previous posts, it made her feel like she did not know what she was doing at all. It also made her have terrible, terrible mood swings. She started Savella about a week ago. The first day after taking it, she felt better for about an hour. Her regular pains have continued. Hopefully the Savella will work better soon!

 

[motherhen17404]

I wish I could tell you good things about Lyrica. I took it for 4 months for Fibro and I begged my Dr. to let me go off it. I didn't have that stoned feeling, for me it just made me blank. Like I had no emotion at all. It did make me forgetful. We went to WDW when I was on it and I can't remember the last 3 days of our trip. And the weight gain was the worst. I gained 35lbs in less then 3 weeks. And it never did anything for my pain. But yet I know people who could not live without Lyrica. I think this is the sort of drug that either works or doesn't work depending on the person.

 

[nikkistevej]

My dad started taking it a few years ago for diabetic and neuropathy issues- he only took it for about a week, couldn't get out of bed to go to dialysis( he went 3 days a week) and we're not sure if he was taking more or less than he should- he was just really out of it and basically died on the fifth day of taking it because of not being able to get up and go to the dialysis. He was just out of it- we believe the dosage was too strong. I think we didn't realize that it would happen- but it was a huge shock, This was in 2008.