Anyone know of Lyrica Pregabalin for neuropathic pain?

[Singalong1]

Hello. I recently posted about my back pain (going on for 10 weeks now) plus nighttime back ‘spasms’ disturbing sleep. Today, I was prescribed Lyrica. Side effects look scary! I’m slowly tapering Pred, down to 7mg this week. Does anyone have experience of Lyrica? I’m feeling quite nervous about taking it. But my back pain is getting me down. Any advice/reassurance most welcome.

[Rostom]

Hi Singalong

I was prescribed Pregabalin (25mg) after spinal surgery and ongoing sciatica. It is a well-known treatment for neuropathic pain and should be beneficial to you.

Please do not dwell on the leaflet accompanying the capsules - the manufacturers are obliged to list everything that could go wrong but in reality the chances of something happening to you are remote and at least you know what they are. I would far rather be taking Pregabalin than Prednisolone (which I detest but of course it is necessary from time to time with my asthma/chest infection flares).

I had to take an extremely (unrelated) strong drug with really worrying side effects last week for the first time and I too was concerned after reading the literature that came in the box but I went ahead and it has cured that particular problem.

Be brave and go ahead - there are always channels to contact if you feel you were having a problem but the chances are greatly that you won't and you will be fine.

Keep well!

[Singalong1 in reply to Rostom]

Thank you Rostom. You’re so right: the information leaflet has to cover all possibilities, so I shouldn’t dwell on that. It’s just that I’m also taking Prednisolone ( with other scary side effects! So I worry. ) My dose is 50mg three times a day. Prescription for a month (I just started yesterday). Not sure how long I will have to be on the medication. How long were you on it?

[Rostom in reply to Singalong1]

Hi Singalong

Could you contact your local pharmacist? They have great knowledge of drug interactions and I often double-check with mine (as I am on quite a number of medications) that everything will be OK and there will not be any contraindications.

Alternatively, perhaps you could speak to your GP as you have just begun a course? Mine accepts requests for telephone consultations via a pro forma obtained from the surgery website. You could write in and explain you have a quick question and this could stop you worrying.

Personally I would check with the pharmacist first as the GP's are really busy with Covid etc.

Hope it works for you and that you are better soon.

[Singalong1 in reply to Rostom]

Thanks again, Rostom. I called pharmacist this morning - yesterday I received invitation to book Covid vaccination! Out of the blue; I’m only 67. Maybe I’m deemed vulnerable because of PMR and meds?! Anyway, I wanted to check with Pharmacist that I’d be ok to have the vaccine, given all the meds I’m on. I was advised all ok 😊

[Rostom in reply to Singalong1]

I am pleased that your chemist could advise you (I rely on mine as there are so many interactions and a poor pleb such as I would struggle otherwise!).

Great news about your vaccination, too. Take a pen with you to complete the paperwork (I am being extra cautious!) and don't dance out in the big wide-world until you have both inoculations - and even then wait a few weeks! Perhaps freedom beckons after that. Well, Covid-freedom. We will still don masks etc., as having come so far we don't want to fall at the last hurdle!

[Rostom in reply to Rostom]

Apologies, I have just spotted that I didn't reply to your point on Prednisolone. I generally begin my rescue pack when I feel I am 'going off the boil' with a dose of six pills each morning for a week. Occasionally I am told by the GP to have eight a day for five or six days.

Prednisolone works wonderfully well and stops the inflammation so as to make breathing much better however, it makes me ravenous and I want to eat for Great Britain! I think I dislike taking it for this reason which is silly really as breathing is rather... fundamental. Wishing you better.

Regards

[Singalong1 in reply to Rostom]

Thank you Rostom. Had first jab this afternoon and I feel fine (well, so far so good!). Yes, I need to remain cautious, but I see light at the end of the tunnel for all of us. Roll on the summer. 😊 Wishing you well.