Lyrica advice

I have been on half of a 25 mg Lyrica for a week now and was fine until day 5 (the usual time build up takes place with me). So far I have had slight blurred vision (didnt last long), couple of days of depression, weird sleep (dont get to sleep till 3 then wake every 2 hours), constipation, but the worse, is the last two days of feeling so so sleepy all day like a zombie and so bodily tired. I tried to go shopping and could hardly walk. Also, waking every morning with the neuralgia in the back of my head I only usually get with bad migraines now, and more pins and needles in a different place in my bum (old coccyx trouble but never had it in this new place). Also sharp pain shooting through my left ear, but this seemed to be for one day.

Wondering whether to up it (the least most people are on seems to be 50 to 75 mg a day) or to stay at the dose I am on, or give it up (I know its early days to give it up).

Anyone had experience with this drug (good or bad)?

Christine

If you take half a capsule I assume you only take it once daily? Lyrica has very short half-life, so it’s usually dosed 3 times a day. Only taking it once a day will make your blood level look like a sine curve if not worse.
I tried it early 2008, at 3x25mg a day, but couldn’t tolerate it. Slept 14 hours and was still a zombie, my migraines were severely worsened, and at least the first few days I felt nauseated 30 minutes (almost exactly) after the dose, with or without food.
Others on the forum have tried it though, including adam who had success and IIRC was on it for quite a while.

Hi Christine,

I tried Lyrica about 15 months ago but didn’t last long. It made me feel ultra depressed really suddenly. I just couldn’t handle it past about 3 days. Sorry I can’t help much but it’s supposed to be well tolerated – more so than neurontin which Adam was on.

Best … Scott 8)

— Begin quote from “scott”

Hi Christine,

I tried Lyrica about 15 months ago but didn’t last long. It made me feel ultra depressed really suddenly. I just couldn’t handle it past about 3 days. Sorry I can’t help much but it’s supposed to be well tolerated – more so than neurontin which Adam was on.

Best … Scott 8)

— End quote

Hmm, 'you sure about that? I’ve heard more bad things about Lyrica to be frank.
Also, adam was on both :slight_smile:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=353&p=1759&hilit=lyrica#p1759

Thanks for the information. Sounds like another rubbish drug. After another day of narcolepsy (might as well of just stayed in bed), on top of all the other side effects, I have given Lyrica the boot.

So whats next, I have Topamax, Effexor and Cymbalta sitting on the side waiting to be tried. Eeny, meeny, miny, mo :roll:

A fed up

Christine

Hi Christine,

I just wrote you a big response only to have the board tell me I wasn’t logged in and then watch my post vanish into thin air.

Was just going to say to keep at it, that I’ve been through a million drugs myself but finally seem to have the correct combo with low-dose Paxil and lifestyle changes as outlined by Bernstein. Have you been able to do 30 min of exercise around 5 days/week and get to bed at the exact same time daily? These two things are making a really good impact on things for me it seems.

Hope your next med is the one.

Best … Scott :slight_smile:

Thanks Scott,

The exercise thing is difficult for me with the ME (or whatever that really is). I do a fair bit of walking, but if I am say, cleaning one day, I dont walk. The sleep is a really baddy for me. I have terrible insomnia. I have tried all sorts for this, Nytol, herb stuff, but I either stay awake till 3 or 5 in the morning, then if I am lucky drop off for 3 hours, or I fall asleep straight away and wake after 3 hours and cant go back to sleep, thats why I was looking for the preventative that helped sleep too but not the way the Lyrica made me feel!

I am so glad something is eventually working for you, I have read all the stuff you tried recently. I know you had some success with cipramel before as well, so its seems the low dose SSRIs work for you. The most success I have had in the past has been with an anti depressent so that is probably the way to go. I am wondering if the Cymbalta and Effexor are worth the side effects coming off them, when, if I am correct, at low doses, only the SSRI bit kicks in and you have to get up high to get the adrenaline part (is that correct do you know). I dont want to take a high dose of anything because of the trouble coming off it. Also, I am worried about the insomnia that Cymbalta and Effexor can cause (I wont be sleeping at all!) I put this to my neurologist and he said he hadnt heard of Cymbalta causing insomnia, in fact, it was supposed to help sleep!!

Thanks

Christine