Well I have visited the psychiatrist for the first time and it wasn’t as bad as I expected! No couches to be seen!! He was fantastic. It was a little weird talking about how this condition effects you emotionally because other doctors are only concerned about the physical symptoms! This guy was right up with migraine meds and made a couple of suggestions on where to go from here. His fav’s were Lyrica and Cipramil (as Scott suggested). Yesterday I started Lyrica and today am really sedated and majorly dizzy. I expected this side effect and will just have to push through it until it settles down. If anyone is on Lyrica I would love to hear from you. Does this fatigue lift after a while?
Kylie
Kylie
Sorry to be so forgetful - can you just recap why you saw the psych and was the Lyrica prescribed for anxiety or dizziness?
Hope the side-effects don’t hang around too long. Glad to hear the consult went well and you feel he’ll be able to help.
Barb
yes i had MAJOR sedation on lyrica- the key is to stay at your current dose until the sedation goes away- if you just keep going up your body wont be able to get used to it. good luck!
Hi Barb,
It was suggested by my “Victorian” Neuro not Dr Granot. He sends a lot of patients with chronic conditions to Psychologists/ psychiatrists. He sensed my desperation to get better and my utter frustration of not finding a cure. I decided to see a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist just because of their knowledge of “brain” drugs. It was worthwhile, we chatted for an hour and a half. He has had some success with Lyrica and prescribed it for dizziness/migraine and anxiety. He thinks this condition has made me quite anxious… which it probably has because I just can’t get better. Hope you are travelling ok Barb? What did you decide to do with Dothep?
Kylie
Now that has ‘jogged’ my memory of your discussion with another member who has also been helped by a psychiatrist. Yes, they do have a good knowledge of “brain” drugs. Didn’t realise that Lyrica could help with all those symptoms so hope it’s a good one for you!
I’m down to 25mg of Dothep (just a few headaches with each drop but generally OK) and waiting to hear what Dr Granot suggestion is for my peripheral neuropathy which the Dothep was also helping. Lyrica is also a med prescribed for PN so perhaps he will suggest that for me. Anxiety is still a problem for me as well but not nearly as bad as it was since reducing the Dothep.
Still have my moments tho’ when I imagine I’m ‘back to normal’, overdo things and have ‘mini spins’ which scare the living daylights out of me! I can’t seem to just stay calm, grab a nearby steady object and think “Oh I the room is spinning I’ll just take some deep breaths, totter to the nearest chair and sit and watch the world rotate”! Eventually I do calm down, do some meditation, etc but wish I could somehow ‘skip’ the anxiety/panic bit. Anybody worked that one out?
Barb
Hi dizzykylie,
Lyrica was the first med that Dr S put me on. He seems to give it to his patients who are anxious. At the beginning it made me tired but it doesn’t last long. It improved me to about 70%
Hi kylie - Yes on Lyrica. Since late last year except a small break. Starting meds really is vile isn’t it? Low dose (50mg night only). Tiredness bad but got a bit better. Not sure what I will do but likely stick with it as it is the only med so far that has moderated the continually falling feeling, particularly at night After this time - and a break where symptoms came back - I am really sure it helps. 
. any gain is good…
I do still feel tired but it’s better than it was - particularly after iron levels got sorted out too - manageable and SE’s nowhere near as bad for me as some other things. is a bugger that at this point not on a high enough dose for it to help migraine pain wise. good luck xo
Great to hear from you guys. Thank you. Robert did Lyrica help with vertigo as well as anxiety? Getting to 70% is amazing ! How long did it take to get to that point and what dosage are you on? Sorry about all the questions but I am desperate for some information on this drug.
Wendy, I agree starting new meds is shocking!! I really struggle. However the sedation on this drug is starting to wear off already. That is a real bonus as with other drugs I have tried the sedation just never went away. I have added dizziness but I am only on day 5. I started on a pretty high dose. 75mg at night and 75mg in the morning. I can only hope that Lyrica will be “the one”!!
You poor thing Barb. It is so scary when that happens. I too have mini spins and the mini panic attacks. They usually happen in shopping centres under artificial lighting. I was interested in what you said about peripheral neuropathy. I haven’t heard of that! Is that what we call visual vertigo?? Lyrica is supposed to be very good for anxiety Barb. Maybe another option. Glad that you have almost weaned yourself off the Dothep… the withdrawal symptoms coming off a drug is not much fun!! You’ve done well!
Take care.
Kylie
Hi Kylie,
I am now on 150 mg 3 times a day
it took a while to notice an improvement. I was getting better a little bit each month. Its a slow process just try and be patient.
I would say it took me 6 months to get to 70%. It helps with the anxiety and the dizziness
let me know if you need any more info
Thank you Robert that is really encouraging. I will keep on going and hopefully like you I will notice an improvement. You are on a really high dose. I have been taking 150mg a day which I thought was a lot. Thanks again for the information. I really appreciate it.
Keep well.
Kylie
the starting dose is usually 25 mg either 2 or 3 times a day. Kylie I would ask to drop down and start from the lowest dose possible.
I have used Gabapentin, the sister drug. I didnt have any tiredness but I am very med tolerant. A lot of others have complained about the sedation though, it will subside so just be patient. This is a great drug!
I started on 50 mg and increased it slowly by 50mg. Take is slow. The side effects don’t last forever 
Thank you everyone. I am feeling much better today. Fatigue is lifting. Eye sight not the best , a little blurry but I feel like I am tolerating this drug pretty well. I have been going to the gym all week which speaks volumes. Usually I struggle to leave the house on a new drug.
Kylie
Wow, fingers crossed that Lyrica keeps working for you and the side effects taper off. Amazing you’ve been getting to the gym - fantastic. So pleased to hear some good news from you.
Barb
Hello all!
Hope everyone is hanging in there!! Well, back for some of your wonderful advise. Been on Lyrica for almost 6 weeks and have been tolerating this drug fairly well. My biggest problem which seems to be getting worse is my blurred/ lagging vision. I haven’t been able to drive distances or read a book for quite a while. Does anyone know whether this side effect is common? I am thinking that anti-convulsants may be the key for me as I have nasty side effects from SSRI/SSNI meds. I am wondering whether it would be worthwhile to try Neurontin. I have read that it has lesser side effects?
Thanks again
Kylie