Lyrica

[anjel75]

Anyone take this med? I called it on Saturday and forgot to pick it up due to child illness. I have been on it for a month or two. I just plain forgot. Kids come first. So, i had been off of it for 2 days, maybe, and I went upstairs to check on my daughter and I felt like a taser-gun like shock in my back and my legs hurt and then went to sleep(numb). I sat down and it went away. I done that all day yesterday but I could sit down before they went numb. Is this because of the Lyrica or id I just reinjure myself?

[royorbison]

I am a 68 year old male who got the worse case of shingles imaginable when I was 61. I got it on the left side of my face. It attacked my ear my eye my tongue my teeth on that side all the way down to my chin. For the first 3 days I wanted to die. I was misdiagnosed originally by my Doctor as T.M.J. He told me to go to my Dentist who told me I had Shingles. The pain was off the charts. Only the L.P.N. of my Doctor suggested Lyrica which was brand new helped me get through the severe pain.  I took it till I could bear the pain then stopped. I continue to this day to have episodes of extreme pain and each time they last longer and are more severe. I am at a point where I am going to a different Doctor for a prescription for Lyrica. I had no problem with it at all after taking it for 3 months. As was previously stated everyone acts different to each drug. If I had been diagnosed properly the first time I could have taken Valtrex which would have prevented this post pain. It must be taken within 72hours of the shingles onset and before the rash develops. PLEASE if you people don't do anything take the shingles shot. It is not fool proof but it has a high prevention rate of not having the post pain. Shingles can permanently damage your nerves cause hearing loss and blindness,  Hope this helps.  Good luck  Al

[88tiger88]

Very good comment; I found it very helpful for all meds in general.  As for Lorica, I have been on it for only a week (for chronic back pain), but it reduced my daily 6-8 level pain to 0-1.  I am able to work out and run again.  So far, this drug has been great.  I will try to follow your advice and keep my fingers crossed.  Thanks!

[Weathergirl21]

Hi there...

You are replying to a thread that is 4 years old...

I'm sorry that you had a bad experience but it truly sounds like a bad Dr. and not just the medication.

This medication can be very helpful for many people and for every medication there is in this world...there is someone who has had a bad experience on it. That doesn't mean that everyone has the same experience and that it is a bad drug.

With any type of nerve pain med from Lyrica, Neurontin, or Cymbalta...there are many ways to keep from gaining weight on it. This med makes people crave salt, sugars, and carbs...So it's very important to watch what you (collective you) eat on this med.

As well as make sure you stay away from caffeine, soft drinks (any kind sugar or not) and drink plenty of water each day to flush the system. At least 10-12 glasses a day.

It's also important to continue to exercise when on this medication at least 30-45 minutes each and every day.

As well as not smoking.

So, if every single one of these things are done right from the start of this type of med...along with a Dr. who undertands that it needs to be started slowly and tirated up as needed. (As every single med should be so that is why I say you had a terrible Dr. who started you so high)...and someone still has issues...then slowly tirating off....

Again...just like with any med out there....there are good reviews and bad. People need to realize this and not think that a medication is "evil" just because they didn't have a good experience.

[NurseKristi]

I can only hope that there are numerous class action lawsuits against this drug/drug company for this vile and utterly horrible drug.  I took it from November 2011 to the first week of January 2012 for a shoulder injury...barely two months...jump ahead til October 4th 2012 and I am only NOW starting to feel normal again.  I gained over 30 pounds in two months, my legs and feet swelled horribly (and I have never had a problem with swelling EVER and I am 39 years old), I itched so insanely in random spots at random times that I thought I was going to lose my mind.  But this is the kicker...even months after coming off of it, I am still suffering from the swelling in my legs and feet, insane, sporadic itching episodes...this crap gets in your system and it STAYS in your system.  No doctor will tell you that, and the drug company would NEVER admit to it, but I am telling you that only being on it for two months has kept that mess in my system for over 9 months after the fact.  I was happy, healthy, NO health issues, NO swelling issues, NO weight issues, and now I'm dealing with high blood pressure (that I have NEVER had before), and doing my best to get my life back after this wretched drug.  I would beg anyone who was even remotely thinking about taking it to NOT EVER allow this drug to be in your home and certainly not in your body.

Side note:  The doctor did not tell me to taper ON to it so I ended up in the hospital, after taking 150mg orally the first time, suffereing from an anaphalactic reaction so severe that my throat closed up, my tongue swelled up, I couldn't breathe, and thank God I only live about three minutes from the nearest hospital or I honestly think I would have died.  The doctors were not concerned when told about this (the ortho who prescribed it) and said to cut back to 75mg and then increase to 150mg.  The doctors will not acknowledge that there are effects from this drug MONTHS after you come off of it, not days or weeks, MONTHS...I am living this nightmare so please believe me.  I have heard of some folks taking it and doing ok, but more often than not these forums are filling up with posts and comments about the horrible experiences people are having with this atrocious drug.  I pray that it will be yanked off the market and no one else will ever have to suffer the side effects and bodily changes that take place from taking this drug.  Because trust me, you might gain 30+ pounds in two months but you WON'T lose it in 2 months...it's like my body has shut down and will not respond to any efforts of exercise or diet to lose weight (and I use to work in the weight loss industry in upper management, I know a thing or two about that topic).  Just do yourself a favor and DO NOT EVER go on this drug.

[Tuckamore]

I have never taken the drug but my concern for your pain. I would begin the lycria as soon as possible and see if the pain is relieved.

However you did not say if this is the type of pain you experienced before the you took the pain med or not. If this is a new pain I would certainly consult with my physician. Pain medications are good to the point that they make the pain tolerable but they have the downside that they can also mask new pain or new symptoms. So again, if this is new I would be concerned and notify my physician.

I am sorry you have had such intrusive pain. I wish you the best of luck in your search for answers. Keep in touch and take care. Tuck

[oceanfamily1992]

I have taken Lyrica, 600mg a day, for a couple years now. I have chronic pain from spinal fusion, and fibromyalgia. It does something for nerve pain that no opiate has ever been able to do for me.  My main side effect is some fluid retention in the hands and feet, and feeling not mentally sharp at times.  I just had to stop taking it as I didn't have money for my copay....normally this would put me flat on my back, but my dr gave me samples of celebrex and I'm doing ok on it and without lyrica. I need to investigate which of the two is the best for me, as celebrex is sooo bad for my stomach.  I'm currently weaning off of methadone - was taking 180mg a day (can you imagine??) and have made it down to 45mg.  It's hard to know what's causing changes with my pain because of these changes.  I say give Lyrica a real try - the max dose for fibromyalgia is 600mg/day.

[deetomershea]

did you ask your doctor about a water pill, so you don't retain as much?

[deetomershea]

RU still happy with Lyrica?