Lyrica

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not be applicable to your case)

Comments

Remember - RSD/CRPS is rooted in the nervous system. The discovery that epilepsy drugs may have beneficial effects for RSD patients does not imply that they have epilepsy.

Properly done Western style acupuncture is far superior to both gaba (Gabapentin/Neurotin) & pregaba (Pregabalin/Lyrica) for people who have spinal nerve injuries and RSD affecting legs. So is properly designed stretching & exercise routines. Both gaba & pregaba cause issues with stability & gait and reduce one's awareness of oneself & one's surroundings. This only leads to further pain and vicious cramps. Personal experience, and that of one other patient I know, pregaba actually increases neuropathic pain! It seems to be reducing blood flow to areas affected by damaged nerves. "Freezing" sensation in legs is a common intermittent problem for me, as is shooting, burning, gripping pain & cramp. Pregaba increased all these nasty sensations at above 75mg (3x25mg) a day. Pfizer's new claim is that Pregaba is what they thought Gabapentin was(!) Interesting! My advice - if you have nerve damage or RSD affecting lower torso & legs then
avoid gaba & pregaba. Gerard - Essex, UK

I have been taking Pregabelin (Lyrica) for a number of weeks now, along with Tramadol. I am very aware that when I take a full dose of both drugs together, 100Mg / 150Mg tramadol and 150Mg of pregabelin. I feel a very strange almost "spaced out" feeling. I certainly feel very unsteady on my feet and find it difficult to walk a few yards without having to hold on to something to steady myself.
If i reduce the pregabelin to 75Mg it is a bit better. I would be interested to hear from anyone with similar experiences when using both drugs. Andy - Taunton, Somerset, UK

I have had CRPS type II for 1.5 years and recently added 600 mg of lyrica per day to 3000 mg Neurontin, 150 Topamax, 2 Clonazapam, 40 Fluoxetine, 80 Oxycontin, 16 Dilaudid. I found very little improvement, if any. Mainly more memory loss, fatigue and loss of coordination. CRPS continues to progress. We had a lot of hope for this medication but I can not recommend Lyrica given my experience. Rich - USA

I have been taking Lyrica for 3 months now and find it amazingly effective. I have had RSDS/CRPS for two and half years and had constant pain in both my hands. Work was out, as were many daily routines and it was only when my Consutant prescibed the 'new' drug Lyrica, that I had the first painfree day for over 2 years. I expected the effects to diminish over the weeks but to my amazement, it is still as effective as when I started. I do have side effects (dizziness, unsteady and feeling slightly 'drunk', which led me to avoid all alcholic drink ) but these are minor to me, compared to the pain relief. Helen - Skerries, Co Dublin, Ireland

Hi, I've had RSD for 3+ years now due to post-op cervical surgery. At first the treatment was Neurontin with different combos of narcotics. I became allergic to any form of narcotic (severe itch inside and out). So, I was just on Neurontin and started to drink heavily to numb the pain (I know it was stupid). Two weeks ago, the Doc had me try Lyrica and I feel much better. I don't wake up in the middle of the night with screaming hands. So far so good. Linda - Lake Forest, California, USA

I have CRPS Type II and have been on Lyrica since day one. I have had great results from the Lyrica at high doses up to 900mg a day. I also take 60mg of Cymbalta a day and the combo seems to help. I have epilepy so I also take phenobarbital 180mg a day and that is it. Since I still have break through pain and refuse to go on narcotics, I chose becoming a candidate for the Spinal Cord Stimulator. It will reduce my pain up to 50% or a little more and I can reduce the amount of meds I am on. For every patient that reads this, I think you are very brave and good for you that you too are researching the net for RSD answers! Kelly - Medford, Oregon, USA

I have had RSD since 1999 after a dislocated left knee. Outpatient treatment didn't work and I have my first neuro-stimulator implanted in 2001 (TENS unit). I am now on my 3rd implant after the other had "worn out". After my 3rd surgery, the implant controlled the swelling but not the pain. I tried Neurontin in the past but it had little effect. My doctor prescribed Lyrica and the effects are amazing. Pain is 85% gone. But man, the side effects! I can barely walk (and I couldn't walk well anyway due to the RSD in both legs). I have been on it for 3 weeks and thought the side effects would diminish. They haven't. Has anybody else had similar problems? I guess it's better than the horrible pain but I have a 2 year old to take care of and I'm scared because I find myself dozing off and not being able to talk to her coherently. I am on 150 mg twice a day. Is that too much? Denise - Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

I contracted RSD about five months ago after having rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder. A saline block was used which may or may not be what cause my RSD. When I was removed from my morphine drip after a few days, I noticed numbness, swelling, and color change in my right hand and a burning in my right arm. It took a couple of months (less than most I understand) to diagnose RSD and I was given Lyrica (75mg twice a day) and Cymbalta (60mg once a day). The combination worked well to virtually eliminate all the symptoms but the numbness remains. There is also slight swelling and I find it hard to close my right hand. With therapy things have improved. My problem has been that the Cymbalta makes me very sleepy and so I have stopped taking it. I have not noticed things getting worse since I stopped but my doctor would like me to go back on it because he feels it will help. He has recommended my taking it at night. So that if I feel tired, I just go to sleep and hopefully it won't affect my work during the day-I will try it. Russell - Dallas, Texas, USA