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Fluffymare profile image
11 Replies

Just been prescibed Lyrica 25 mg by 2 a day, for Fibromyalgia, anyone tried it and did it work, bit scared of side effects

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Fluffymare
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11 Replies
Ian123 profile image
Ian123

It was not a good treatment for me but that is no guarantee you will have the same reaction which is why the doctors start with a low dose testing your reaction. If you tolerate it well and it's effective the dose can be increased and if not so good the side effects will be relatively mild.

Fluffymare profile image
Fluffymare in reply to Ian123

Did it affect your balance, because mine is pretty bad from Fibro, have my husband coming home from hospital after stroke, so do not want to experience anything that might render me unable to cope.

I have taken several antidepressants over the past 15 month all have given me bad side effects and no benefits, so am a little nervous about taking this one, just read the leaflet in the box and its scary.

It has not helped being told by Psychiatrist, after getting no results from previous meds that inhave a sensitive system, which has made me expect side effects, and made my Fibro worse and the ibs it has given me

I think sometimes ignorance is bliss

RayB profile image
RayB in reply to Fluffymare

I was on 450gm of Lyrica a day, it did leave me a a bit wiped at this dose but it was a blessing for some time. Unfortunately for me it stopped working.

It was not a drug I liked but I would take it again in a flash if it would work.

25mg X 2 times daily is a small dose but this seemingly works well for many.

Best Wishes, Ray

rosewine profile image
rosewine

Yes that is the dose I started with as I seem to be very sensitive to alot of drugs. I admit to feeling rather wiped out and other worldy for several days until my body got used to it. The doctor was sensible and slowly increased to 3 a day and then gave me stronger tablets. it did help me with the neuropathic pain that I was enduring 24 hours a day which was shooting and burning type pains which were sending me up the wall. I thought they weren't doing any good until I started to come off them and then all those types of pains came back with a vengence so I am more than happy to be on it. It doesn't have any bad effects on me now. Yes I agree if you read the side effects it can really put you off but they only list the possible ones it doesn't actually mean that you will definately suffer them.

I always decide when i have read the side effects how desperate I am to get rid of whatever it is promising to help as to whether I go ahead and always ask for the minimum dose first and slowly build up if I can. I also try starting it when I know I have a few days that I can take it easier. If you do decide to try it try and start it before hubby comes home so your system has chance to get used to it.

Good luck with everything and I hope all goes well when hubby comes home.xxx

Fluffymare profile image
Fluffymare in reply to rosewine

thank you for message.

Having bad day today pain 9/10 scale.

I have Ibs did you experience any GI problems taking the Pregabalin.

rosewine profile image
rosewine in reply to Fluffymare

I also have IBS and it tended to be the one giving you the trots rather than constipation. That is one thing I noticed on Pregablin that the pains seemed to get much better in my gut and also the trots got much better. When I mentioned it to the doctor he said that Pregablin worked on nerve endings and that the gut has them so therefore it can have that good effect.

Hi Fluffymare :)

I can understand the fear of taking something new and wondering how it will affect you and here you will be among many fibromites who have also faced that journey.

Lyrica (Pregabalin) does come with side effects like many drugs but often the good they do far outweighs them. However, the main side effects that we appear to complain about here on the forum are weight gain and Brain Fog. Here is a link to a page which describes everything including the side effects etc of Pregabalin.

patient.co.uk/medicine/preg...

These links from our Mother site fibroaction.org take you to fact sheets which discuss medications that are used to help manage the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.

Information on Fibromyalgia Syndrome - Fact Sheet 8

How Is Fibro Treated?Medications - general advice

fibroaction-public.sharepoi...

Information on Fibromyalgia Syndrome - Fact Sheet 9

How Is Fibro Treated? - Neurotransmitter Medications

fibroaction-public.sharepoi...

Information on Fibromyalgia Syndrome - Fact Sheet 10

How Is Fibro Treated? - Analgesics (Painkillers)

fibroaction-public.sharepoi...

All fact sheets are printable and downloadable for ease of reference and you will find many others discussing other aspects of the illness too

I take Lyrica (Pregabalin) to help prevent the muscular spasms which I suffer with due to my pain receptors overloading as told by a neurologist. It is important to remember that we are all different though as discussed in Fact Sheet 8 and you may take other medications and have differing illnesses to me so you're journey with Pregabalin could be very different.

I take between 400mg-600mg daily depending on my own personal needs and the doses are altered in accordance to other medications that I take, which doses are also altered at the same time to prevent seretonin overload..................... another point for discussion for which there are previous posts archived.

I also take Tramadol S/R and M/R and Sertraline!!

If you are feeling wary about any new medication it may be good to have a chat with your GP or local pharmacist who will discuss the medication with you and what it is for and possibly what to expect from it.

I apologise for lengthy reply but hope that you find the information useful :)

Please let us now how it progresses for you and I wish you wellness and send soft fluffie hugs for comfort :)

xxx sian :) Please note that I am not a health Professional just a fellow fibromite sharing some info with you :)

Fluffymare profile image
Fluffymare

Thank you for the information

I am in a dark place at the moment, my husband had a stroke 9 weeks ago which has increased my anxiety and fibromyalgia ten fold

My husband is 82

and quite frail, I was told he had a 8.5cm aneurysm so that is another worry, he is being sent home with a package of care 4times a day, I will to care for him when they are not here.

Ibhave had GAD since my teens, in 2003 had a very bad patch, took Citalopram and that kept it under control for 10 years ,in 2013 it came back with a vengeance after the Citalopram stopped working,mst tried various other Antidepressants which all gave me bad side effects without any benefits, saw a Psychistrist who put me on Dulixetine that flared up my fibromyalgia badly, put me on Lorazepam 1mg, and Zopiclone 3.75 for sleeping and am still on them, said that my system was sensitive, and did not think further meds would be beneficial, said he thought I was suffering from emotional distress

and relaxation would be better,and said that will have to live with it. I am 78 and would rather be dead.

Saw a Consultant Psychistrist said my brain was hard wired to anixety, and explained how the pain was amplified, also thought further meds would not be beneficial and relaxation was the answer and keep a diary. Cannot get into relaxation at the moment.

I rang my Dr yesterday because this pain has become unbearable with cramps in my feet and legs nerve pain in my legs and arms, headache and pain between shoulder blades ,chest and horrible tingling down my arms.

This is my dilemma, balance and fog is bad, and I see that balance and fog are among the side effects, i can only drive locally, but need to.

Sorry this is quite rambling but do not feel too good today and at my wits end

Pat.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Sorry but i have not used this medication, but I wanted to wish you all the best of luck with this.

Take care

Ken x

mikeymoo profile image
mikeymoo

Hi there,

I take Lyrica 150mg x2 per day which my G.P. say's is the maximum dose. It was brilliant at first but as time has gone on it has become less effective. The side effects may be bad at times too. Hugs x

Daftney profile image
Daftney

In response to you question regarding Lyrica Pregabalin best medication ever it's not a cure but it really does help! you need to trail and error with the dosage (between you & your GP) to find a level you can tolerate. Medication = coping and I think it out ways side effects! (personal recommendation) a must if you can get a referral from your GP to a pain management clinic. Really does open your eyes must be open minded and willing to help yourself. I started low on the medication, but wasn't strong enough. I'm now on a higher dose. I still do get pains with my FM being but the meds really help calm the Nerves from flaring, so don't get to much of a HUGE major flare. (unless highly stressed) I am a strong believer that our NERVES are the major cause of FM pain! Hope this is a help to you

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