Medication queries - Lyrica..... take or not to take

Also be carefull if you drive while on them.

1st time I was on them almost plowed through Sydney CBD pedestrian crossing with over 50 people on it. I had red knew I had to stop by in my head did not care. Did not have murderous thoughts - just literaly 'care factor zero' and couls not force myself to step on the breaks... Took every bit of strength to finally bit the breaks in the last second. I can honestly say that was the scariest moment in my life - knowing I could have killed all tose people because of a damn drug ??

Jel

I sugger from severe neurlagias (not BC related) and twice have been prescribed Lyrica.

Both time made my severely psychotic (the 2 incidents were than 10 years apart) and each time it hit me within 24 hours of taking it even though low dose.

Then again most neuralgia.drugs have that effect on me. I now take Endep (only 10mg as have been on it for 4 years now but initually was 20mg) and no issues. I do not know why every doctor prescribes Lyrica to start off with when Endep has so much less adverse effect :(

If you are in oain just take it BUT make sure people who are in regular contact with you are aware Lyrica can affect people physchologically as can have no effect or can make you manic or depressed or psychotic so they need to keep an eye out and if you start to exhibit those behaviours they need to step it. You need pain relief so may as well go for it.

2nd time I had to take it (before Neurologist put me on Endep) I told everyone how I reacted the 1st time and that I was relying on them to step in if there is a need as I would not be able to realise what I was doing seeing it would affect my ability to reason. Lucky I did as 4 days in my cousin andnhusband dragged me to the doctor told him I was absolutely manic and uncontrollable and I was taken off them with advice never to take it again.

Had I not told them they would have been looking the other way thinking I was just being difficult and moody.

Also, Lyrica has been known to cause edemas so keep an eye out on the hand affected by lymph node removal.

All the best

Jel.

Re reading...your Dr may recommend twice daily which would be therapeutic. But due to your concerns perhaps thought a lower dose might be best to gauge side effects first and go up if tolerated.. a few weeks might be all you need to calm it down.

https://www.drugs.com/dosage/lyrica.html

If you Google lyrica the company recommends starting dose of 150mg. I think this is often why people find it doesn't  work...once the nerves respond you can then cut back.

Hi Tracy, I didn't realise chemo caused nerve pain. I contacted shingles during chemo and was put on lyrica for the nerve pain shingles caused. Which did send me off the planet! We have headed away in our caravan to Nambucca heads and the pain through my shoulder and down my arm started up. I happened to have a script for Endep 10, so decided to try it. And it has helped heaps. I think it is also to help you sleep, which I really don't need. 

As one of the girls said we all act differently to medication so it may not help you, but for me it worked. 

Also my surgeon suggested vit B12 for nerve damage which has occurred in my arm. I have been left with two numb fingers. Maybe, just maybe the feeling will come back in 12-18 months. 

Im so excited to be able to get away. We plan to stay here for a month. 

Hope you find help, keep warm.  

Anne-Marie ??

Hi Tracy 

mine is from the chemo too.... I had TAC, then AC then Paxicetaxel, got peripheral neuropathy stopped that and had FEM... I heard you. 

I use my compression stockings for my feet it does help a bit. 

for my back and chest I dry brush. 

it is horrible being allergic to things I hear you my list is so long I have a medic alert card... had the bracelet but I am allergic to it... grrrr. 

hope some of the things we have shared will help you find some ways to lessen this side effect and help you get some much needed sleep. 

hugs 

Alice 

Hi Tracy,

I like you, suffer from Nerve pain and have terrible reactions to strong pain medications. I was prescribed Lyrica which I took but I needed to stop as it not only made me spacy it also made me extremely anxious and panicked to the point that I needed to speak to a Psychologist the next day as my thought patterns were not healthy. this was very very scary for me and I have been reluctant to try anything else since

I have been on various chemo's for nearly 4 years now and I just live with the pain and take a combined Paracetamol & Ibuprofin from the pharmacy.

I know everyone reacts differently and some medications take awhile for your system to get used to so good luck with it .

Michelle

hi Tracy, I'm not on Lyrica but have quite severe pain in my bones mainly lower back, some knee joint pain and nerve pain from the Armidex.... I found a magnesium bath help me and I also have the magnesium oil which I spray on the pain.  I don't know if I can share the biz where I got it from but message me if you're interested.

Chriss xx

Thanks Paula....the dose i have a script for is 75mg also......I have talked to my GP about my fears and although she was understanding...she still gave me the script for Lyrica and said if I didn't like it we could change....

I am just coming good in my head after chemo and don;t want to walk around like a bloody zombie anymore! :/ 

so annoying!

Hi Alice....

I have it in my toes, fingers and along the side of my knee to halfway up my thigh.....I have had so many adverse reactions to high end pain killers during this experience that i am terrified to take any new one! Theses range from rashes to fainting!

The nerve pain isnt from my surgery, it's from the last rounds of Docetaxel chemo :/