I have access to up to 600mg of Lyrica but take about 1/2 of that. I took the full dosage after Cspine surgery. The narcotics issue is an old one, but if your body needs the pain controlled it uses the narcotic to block the pain and you don't become addicted. Now I might get booed on that one, but as one of my docs said (of course the one that does not do my pain meds) so long as you take the minimal amount to control the pain and function you are not addicted. When your body needs it whether you are at the same pain level or not is an indication of addiction. Of course, I had one idiot doc tell me if I had to take one Lortab a day then I was addicted. I almost hurt myself laughing at him. I then asked him where he went to medical school and what experience he had with addiction and narcotics. ANY medication can be abused, it is the individual that must stay very aware of how different medications affect alertness and functioning as well as pain control. I don't think we should be drugged and zombified, but no one should have to suffer even with chronic pain. There are so many different alternatives. I may eventually look into a spinal stimulator to block nerve signals, but the thought of someone messing with my spine yet again makes me almost gag. I have told my doctors that if my quality of life is miserable, then there is no use for quantity of life. I would rather have medications than not be able to get out of the bed and have a semblance of my life. Have any of your docs done a combine antiD therapy such as wellbutrin and zoloft or another med? I know I tried that with not much success, but have had others with fibro tell me that it helped them. I also liked Cymbalta, but had to stop because I had the adverse side effects that were a little scarey. Sometimes switching to a similar med and coming off of one you have been on allows for the body to lose it's high tolerance and you can eventually go back on the other med (like from Lyrica to Cymbalta and eventually back to Lyrica). You said you were on elavil, it is used as an anti seizure med also. My neuro has tried me on several of those even though I don't have seizures (surprising since I have multiple head injuries) and they have helped with some of my symptoms. I can tell though when my body does not need them just from how it begins to react differently. Eventually we should all just sit for the board certification in multiple areas of medicine at the rate we are going. I have even tried to get in on medical studies for this as well as my head injury. So far no luck b/c I have too much wrong with me. Geez! Thanks! LOL, laugh about it or cry, it is raining with TS Hanna, so I will just laugh.