ATallOne
08-31-2006, 01:27 PM
Hi Everyone
My doctor prescribed me Lyrica recently which I was excited about after reading all of your threads. Imagine the possibility of reducing the pain in my feet. Well wouldn't you know it. My insurance company won't even budge. So the bottom line is if I want it I will have to pay $192.00 per refill. I just don't have that kind of money. So my doctor prescribed me Pamelor instead. Also known as Nortriptyline, I have been on it about a week now and have mixed feelings so far. Have any of you ever experienced Myclonic Jerks. You'll be sleeping and all of a sudden you will be jerked harshly awake. Well I suffer from that but as of late it has been three fold. I feel like Regan in the Exorcists. Your whole body just jerks or thrashes you awake. Don't ask me why. And I'm not sure if the new med is making it worse or not. Well I wish you all better days ahead. Chin Up.
Mark :)
My doctor prescribed me Lyrica recently which I was excited about after reading all of your threads. Imagine the possibility of reducing the pain in my feet. Well wouldn't you know it. My insurance company won't even budge. So the bottom line is if I want it I will have to pay $192.00 per refill. I just don't have that kind of money. So my doctor prescribed me Pamelor instead. Also known as Nortriptyline, I have been on it about a week now and have mixed feelings so far. Have any of you ever experienced Myclonic Jerks. You'll be sleeping and all of a sudden you will be jerked harshly awake. Well I suffer from that but as of late it has been three fold. I feel like Regan in the Exorcists. Your whole body just jerks or thrashes you awake. Don't ask me why. And I'm not sure if the new med is making it worse or not. Well I wish you all better days ahead. Chin Up.
Mark :)
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don'tlikecold
08-31-2006, 02:24 PM
Hi Mark,
I'm not sure what is going on but my insurance company suddenly said my $3 co-pay for Rx no longer applies to Lyrica. I only have to pay $22 so I am fortunate, but I don't understand why insurance companies are doing this.
If you can't afford to pay for the prescription, ask your doctor if he can ask the drug rep for free samples. My doctor has plenty of them but since my co-pay is so low, I refused them. At that time, he/she can ask the rep if there is an indigent program. If so, it just takes a simple form that the doctor completes and you can get the meds for free.
It might even be better if you tried free samples first to see if Lyrica will work for you.
Good luck,
Susan
I'm not sure what is going on but my insurance company suddenly said my $3 co-pay for Rx no longer applies to Lyrica. I only have to pay $22 so I am fortunate, but I don't understand why insurance companies are doing this.
If you can't afford to pay for the prescription, ask your doctor if he can ask the drug rep for free samples. My doctor has plenty of them but since my co-pay is so low, I refused them. At that time, he/she can ask the rep if there is an indigent program. If so, it just takes a simple form that the doctor completes and you can get the meds for free.
It might even be better if you tried free samples first to see if Lyrica will work for you.
Good luck,
Susan
thylantyr
08-31-2006, 06:16 PM
Also known as Nortriptyline, I have been on it about a week now and have mixed feelings so far
That drug didn't help my friend in pain treatment.
Vicodin + Neurontin + Morphine is the current regiment.
That drug didn't help my friend in pain treatment.
Vicodin + Neurontin + Morphine is the current regiment.
SarahNina
08-31-2006, 06:32 PM
My insurance company denied Lyrica for me also. My doctors all said that the drug composition is EXTREMELY close to Neurontin and that I should take that instead. I'm still hoping that Lyrica will be approved for me at some point, but after several appeals I've decided to stop fighting it for a while.
Petesmom
08-31-2006, 11:33 PM
I am fortunate that my insurance pays for it, at least for now. I also like the benefits of the drug itself, it has been a Godsend for me. However, I cannot deal with the side effects. I also take Pamelor at night before bed. Between the two of them I am severely constipated (we're talking once a week here), forcing myself to urinate, even upon awakening in the morning, dry throat, wierd vision, feels like I'm wearing someone elses glasses. The worst part is that I have packed on the pounds in very little time.
I saw the neuro the other day, and told him I researched and found another drug whose side effect was weight loss. It's Topomax. My sister-in-law takes it for prevention of migraines. He allowed me to take it, but thinks it won't be as effective as the Lyrica for the pain. It's a slow starting up and weaning off process. He's keeping me on the Pamelor.
If anyone has any experience with Topomax I would love to hear about it.
Be Well,
Jill
I saw the neuro the other day, and told him I researched and found another drug whose side effect was weight loss. It's Topomax. My sister-in-law takes it for prevention of migraines. He allowed me to take it, but thinks it won't be as effective as the Lyrica for the pain. It's a slow starting up and weaning off process. He's keeping me on the Pamelor.
If anyone has any experience with Topomax I would love to hear about it.
Be Well,
Jill
djoyv
09-01-2006, 02:40 AM
Hi Mark,
You might just want to consider yourself lucky. I havent known anyone personally to have a beneficial experience from lyrica and only horrific side effects. My own condition was made far worse from my one month experience on lyrica. I used to take Pamelor as well. I'm a bit confused, however. As a previous post mentioned, Neurontin is most similar to Lyrica and is often covered by insurance when lyrica is not. It does not have many of the side effects that lyrica does. Pamelor, however, is in a totally different class of meds. It is a mood elevator, an antidepressant, which sometimes can help with nerve pain. I had no side effects from pamelor, but after taking it for about 2 years, I wasn't sure if it was actually helping, so I decided to stop it to find out. Not only din my pain not worsen once I had stopped the pamelor, but my mood had actually lifted and improved! I would check with your dr. about trying neurontin instead of lyrica.
Best of luck!
You might just want to consider yourself lucky. I havent known anyone personally to have a beneficial experience from lyrica and only horrific side effects. My own condition was made far worse from my one month experience on lyrica. I used to take Pamelor as well. I'm a bit confused, however. As a previous post mentioned, Neurontin is most similar to Lyrica and is often covered by insurance when lyrica is not. It does not have many of the side effects that lyrica does. Pamelor, however, is in a totally different class of meds. It is a mood elevator, an antidepressant, which sometimes can help with nerve pain. I had no side effects from pamelor, but after taking it for about 2 years, I wasn't sure if it was actually helping, so I decided to stop it to find out. Not only din my pain not worsen once I had stopped the pamelor, but my mood had actually lifted and improved! I would check with your dr. about trying neurontin instead of lyrica.
Best of luck!
feelbad
09-01-2006, 11:28 AM
i too had some good benefits from lyrica but on the flipside,the side effects were absolutely debilitating for me.it affected my vision to the point where i would have to actually concentrate on my eyes just to keep them from crossing and going double vision on me,and the leg coordination was like i just consumed a six pack or something.these were the worst side effects i have ever suffered from any of the many meds i have tried in the past.
i just had a big suggestion for you.try using the lyrica for one month(you will have to pay that one co pay) and see how it actually works on you before setting out to try and battle the ins company or go any further with this.you just never know how you are going to actually react with any med,but with this one,alot of people either have a great experience or horrid,there does'nt seem to be too much in between,you know what I mean?but paying that one time high co pay(i know it sucks) may be worth it,just to see if it actually will even work for you at all or if you will have any sort of reaction to it.be careful what you wish for ya know?good luck and keep us posted on how things go for you.Marcia
i just had a big suggestion for you.try using the lyrica for one month(you will have to pay that one co pay) and see how it actually works on you before setting out to try and battle the ins company or go any further with this.you just never know how you are going to actually react with any med,but with this one,alot of people either have a great experience or horrid,there does'nt seem to be too much in between,you know what I mean?but paying that one time high co pay(i know it sucks) may be worth it,just to see if it actually will even work for you at all or if you will have any sort of reaction to it.be careful what you wish for ya know?good luck and keep us posted on how things go for you.Marcia
SarahNina
09-01-2006, 07:37 PM
I think Marcia's suggestion to try Lyrica for a month might be a good idea. You can also check into ordering it from Canada (and I think Israel too) at a cheaper rate. As you probably know, it can take a few weeks for some of these drugs to really "kick in." When I was first put on Lyrica I don't think I got any noticeable relief for about 3 weeks. The neuro who prescribed it said I should feel relief within a week, but that just wasn't the case.
I had 2 months worth of Lyrica given to me as samples. During this time I found out that my insurance denied the Lyrica. I was then put on Neurontin. The 2 drugs are so similar that I didn't need to wean off the Lyrica before going on the Neurontin. I just stopped taking one and started with the other. The neurologist that I finally settled with after being bumped all over the city, said "It's too bad your insurance won't cover Lyrica but Neurontin is basically the same thing."
From my research, I've figured out that the main draws to Lyrica over Neurontin are that :
1) It's actually approved for PN, unlike Neurontin which is given as an "off label" use
2) It's a smaller dose so people sometime experience fewer side effects
3) I think that there's some evidence that Lyrica can be a mood elevator
I had 2 months worth of Lyrica given to me as samples. During this time I found out that my insurance denied the Lyrica. I was then put on Neurontin. The 2 drugs are so similar that I didn't need to wean off the Lyrica before going on the Neurontin. I just stopped taking one and started with the other. The neurologist that I finally settled with after being bumped all over the city, said "It's too bad your insurance won't cover Lyrica but Neurontin is basically the same thing."
From my research, I've figured out that the main draws to Lyrica over Neurontin are that :
1) It's actually approved for PN, unlike Neurontin which is given as an "off label" use
2) It's a smaller dose so people sometime experience fewer side effects
3) I think that there's some evidence that Lyrica can be a mood elevator
djoyv
09-02-2006, 01:55 AM
Lyrica is also considered a controlled substance whereas Neurontin is not.
moviestr_20
09-05-2006, 06:34 PM
I'm surprised.
Have you thought about disability if your neuropathy interfers with work & living, disability can be a way to go.
I'm on SSI (mainly because of deafness, ED, GP, epilepsy & PN). With it comes medicaid, and medicaid does approve lyrica.
Currently the meds I'm on are: Erthrombycin, Nexium, Zelnorm, Phenergan (GP issue), Lyrica (NP issue), Keppra (epilepsy), Iron sulfate (anemia), Xanax (anxiety), Fentanyl Patch & Lidoderm (pain associated with both NP & GP), and lastly Ambien (insomina).
I will soon be back on either Ritalin or Adderall (adhd)-- I was taken off of it (was on concerta) due to GP and not able to take anything by mouth. I'm hoping my doc will go for ritalin as it worked, but I dunno about adderall. I'm sort of concerned about mixing these meds with the said above meds.
I'm also wondering if having all the medications mixed, does it worsen the NP or improve it? I AM on lyrica, so...
anyway, aside my problems--for you not being approved for lyrica can be a problem if the other medicine is causing the spasm like you're describing (serious issues that needs to be confronted before it worsens--I promise). I would highly ask your doc if he has any "samples of lyrica" for now-- it can help somewhat. Plus there's ways to get around the insurance problems and actually get approved.
Have you asked the doctor or the receptionist to call the insurance and get what's called "PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS"...if they do this, most often you'll be approved and will be able to have the meds filled.
Try this first, if it doesn't work... call your ins company and speak to YOUR casemanager (everyone has their own casemanager within their own insurance, it's something many don't know-- if you speak to them and let them know your issues and whatnots, more than likely they'll know you more personally and will understand when they get calls for certain meds-- you will be approved for them w/o a doubt.).
good luck
jen
Have you thought about disability if your neuropathy interfers with work & living, disability can be a way to go.
I'm on SSI (mainly because of deafness, ED, GP, epilepsy & PN). With it comes medicaid, and medicaid does approve lyrica.
Currently the meds I'm on are: Erthrombycin, Nexium, Zelnorm, Phenergan (GP issue), Lyrica (NP issue), Keppra (epilepsy), Iron sulfate (anemia), Xanax (anxiety), Fentanyl Patch & Lidoderm (pain associated with both NP & GP), and lastly Ambien (insomina).
I will soon be back on either Ritalin or Adderall (adhd)-- I was taken off of it (was on concerta) due to GP and not able to take anything by mouth. I'm hoping my doc will go for ritalin as it worked, but I dunno about adderall. I'm sort of concerned about mixing these meds with the said above meds.
I'm also wondering if having all the medications mixed, does it worsen the NP or improve it? I AM on lyrica, so...
anyway, aside my problems--for you not being approved for lyrica can be a problem if the other medicine is causing the spasm like you're describing (serious issues that needs to be confronted before it worsens--I promise). I would highly ask your doc if he has any "samples of lyrica" for now-- it can help somewhat. Plus there's ways to get around the insurance problems and actually get approved.
Have you asked the doctor or the receptionist to call the insurance and get what's called "PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS"...if they do this, most often you'll be approved and will be able to have the meds filled.
Try this first, if it doesn't work... call your ins company and speak to YOUR casemanager (everyone has their own casemanager within their own insurance, it's something many don't know-- if you speak to them and let them know your issues and whatnots, more than likely they'll know you more personally and will understand when they get calls for certain meds-- you will be approved for them w/o a doubt.).
good luck
jen
warlock
09-08-2006, 02:30 PM
hi, ATALLOne my name is warlock have not posted in awhile but on the subject of lyrica. I tired it for about a mth,that is about as long as it worked for me,you may be different.I also could not afford them anyway.About myoclonus i also suffer from this.I looked it up on the net. one causes of it is low dosage of methadone which i do take,some days are worst than others.At times i bearly fill it, others times i bout jump out of bed or sofa ,chair just where ever i happen to nod off it.It only happens to me is just before i fall asleep.Have a great day warlock.