My doctor gave me an Rx for Lyrica today. I have fibro/Costochondritis/bursitis.
Have any of you tried this new drug? If so, can you please tell me if it has helped, etc? I noticed the side effects can be swelling hands/feet and rapid weight gain, etc. If you have tried Lyrica and had side effects, could you please tell me about them and how long after you started the medicine did the side effects start?
Thanks for any help,
Kaye

Hi Kaye, I am on 300 mg of Lyrica, I started out at 75 and worked my way up, I have not had any side affects, and I have to say for me, this drug is a miracle, it has helped me immensely with the fibromyalgia, my headaches are almost gone, the burning in my feet has lessened and the all over aches and pains have lessened, I can deal with the left over pain now. I hope it does as well for you:)

Sunny

I was on it for three weeks. I opted out because I felt no relief from it what so ever and the sooner you get yourself off one of these crazy drugs the better.

I've been on Lyrica 50mg at bedtime for 2 weeks, so far no side effects.


BeHappy2

Been taking lyrica since February for extreme pain in my hands. It started working instantly and it was great to have my hand back.
I didn't have any problem with weight gain. I had already gained 20 pounds prior to going on the drug due to inability to exercise. I did notice that it was more difficult to lose weight since my cravings seemed to be more enhanced. But I just have learned to listen to my body and ingore the cravings as best as possible.
I never experienced any of the other side effects either. It really has been great.
Now if I could just find something to help with my arthritis and joint pain.

I didn't do well on Lyrica (I'm also on many other meds for other disorders, that Lyrica increases the sedative effects of)...It was like being anesthetized. I didn't find it to do anything but put me half comatose.

I have been on Lyrica for about a month now. i take 75mg in am and 75mg at nite.......usually with dinner, this way it helps relax me, and i can get to sleep better also. It has helped me immensely and it started working immediately, and i have had no side affects. I used to take Klonopin for my RLS, but since i've started the lyrica, i haven't had to take the Klonopin. the lyrica is expensive, i wish there was a generic, but i think if it works, and it does for me.....it's worth paying for!! I've tried alot of different medications, and have been on 3-4 at a time, but not anymore. I do also take Mobic in the morning......that has helped my headaches tremendously. I was taking that before the lyrica and i'm afraid to stop it, as i haven't had a headache since i started taking it. i used to get awful migraine and tension headaches.
I hope it works for you. my personal opinion..........i love it!!

take care and GL!
Shellie

Lyrica has only been on the market for 2 years, so it'll be at least another 13 before a generic comes out. Probably closer to 18. The standard patent issue on medications is 20 years.

I have just started on Lyrica,..& I have to say it has helped me so much its unbelievable!!I now can usually sleep all the way thru the night,..before taking this,..I may have been able to sleep maybe 4 hrs @ a time if that,,...& still I hurt alot,...Yes,.it is pretty expensive,...but it really does work for me,..Thank GOD!! Now if onlu we could find the right antidepressant,..right now I am on Cymbalta,...but I personally do not think it helps me as much as Zoloft did,...I am SO....sensitive,...& seem to cry more on this one than any of the ones I have tried,...& talk about EXPENSIVE,...try$139.00 for 30 pills,..if I'd try going thru the canadian pharmacy,..they are alot more reasonable,..because they have the generic.,..I am going to stay on them for the 4 mos,..to give them a really good "try"but.,..I after that if they still don't help me with my emotions,...then forget it,...Walmart has a list that they sell for $4.00,..maybe one of the, will help me with my depression,...alot better,...after speaking with my DR,...,..LH

On the anti-depressant front, have you tried Remeron yet? There's something strange about the way it works that is most beneficial to FM patients. That's what I take. Plus it's taken at night and helps you sleep with a low incidence of side effects. If you haven't tried that one yet, talk to your doctor about it. It's also generic now. 30 tabs of the 30mg is about $50-60 depending on your pharmacy and 30 of the 45mg are $70-85 depending on your pharmacy. And since they're generic, as time goes by it gets cheaper.

:eek: I took my first 75 mg Lyrica last night. I had one of those nightmares called sleep paralysis where I 'woke up' and couldn't move or yell for help, it was the scariest thing! I was right in the middle of a totally realistic run for my life and zombies were coming at me with knifes...I could only open my eyes a slit and saw my comforter up by my chin, but I couldn't move my eyes anymore than that. I was going to push the comforter away but my arms would not move, I wanted to knock on my headboard to get help but couldn't move. I was terrified -- indiscrible -- I kept waking up (or so I thought) and going back into the nightmare and then waking up at the crucial point again. I tried to say something, like HELP!, but all I heard was my throat girgle. I then had a full blown panic attack without being able to move or open my eyes more than a slit. finally, Thank God, my cats both felt my distress from another room and came in together and jumped up on me, completely breaking the spell! I was shaking and afraid to get out of bed. I, of course, blamed the Lyrica. I am afraid to take it again. no pain reliever is worth the paralysis and nightmares. (My little heros, the cats, had never done that before either.) I know I'm just gabbing now, so here's my question...

Does anyone know if that's a legitimate side-effect or was it a coincidence? :confused: I read the yard-long insert for the med but didn't come up with anything about nightmares or sleep paralysis. It's Saturday, but Monday I'm going to call my doctor and talk about this.

It's probably like any other drug, tolerated by some, a miracle for others, and detrimental to a few. Our delicate systems are so different from eachothers, even though we share the struggles of FMS!

thanks for 'listening' ;)

Janet

My daughter gets sleep paralysis. She is not on any meds and has cfs and fms. She said hers happens if she is startled awake. I hope that you are feeling better soon.

I hope that you are feeling better soon.

THANK YOU!!!:D