Side Effects

[Mari005]

My mom she is 75yrs. old and has been taking Lydrica for a while want to say maybe 4-5 years now. She is been having some issues with ichy scale and falling hair. She went to a doctor yesterday about her hair and the doctor told her that it was because of this medication (Lydrica) But I have seen all side effects and none talk about hair lost. And my mother does not want to leave this medication because its the only one that works for her burning feet. Has anybody else expirence hair loss with Lydrica?She also takes Cymbalta 60mg,lyrica 75mg, Nexuim 40mg, and Tramabol 50mg. What do you all suggest she get tested for ?

[Mari005]

thanks for your comment .

[Mari005]

thank for your advice I am going to make her an appointment

[mellie4]

I think Jaybay just gave you great advice.  Lots of elderly have different side effects than the more common ones.  Medications can easily interact and sometimes medications that have been fine for a long time all of a sudden aren't.  A gerentologist probably is the best place to look for answers.

When my mom was alive, we had a few kinks with her medications.  She saw several doctors and even though I brought the list of all the medications she was on with us to each appointment, it didn't always make a difference.  She had too many doctors prescribing too many different medications.

[Jaybay]

Some medications can have odd adverse effects in older people that don't happen when we're younger.  My mother (same age as your mom) had really weird side effects from lyrica but it didn't help her pain so she quit taking it.  

I think your mom would benefit from a complete medication review by a gerontologist.  That's a doctor who specializes in treating seniors.  A gerontologist is far more likely to be aware of adverse reactions in the elderly and know how to treat them or figure out a different medication regimen.

Also, much as we like to think all of our doctors are up on the latest and greatest information on every single medication on the market, it's impossible.  Not even pharmacists can keep up with it all.  When we ask a question they can't immediately answer, they go directly to the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) to look up the information.  There are many online sites that provide study data on meds that include contraindications and side effects.  I like RxList.com but there's plenty of others out there.  The medical lingo can be difficult to understand sometimes, but you'll get the general idea.

There is an expert forum here at Med Help for pharmacy information.  You might try that one and see if the pharmacist can give you more details on the side effects of all your mom's meds.  It may be a combination of the lyrica and cymbalta causing the trouble rather than only one of them.  Best of luck to you and your mom.  I know it's not easy to watch her in pain and now having more trouble from her meds.