Hey stacilyn,what does your doctor think she will do when you go back to see her..You say the lyrica is helping are you anticipating stopping the lyrica? My daughter says she cannot see weight gain in me but my
clothes say diff. I cant wear some I was wearing 2 months ago its a drag.





Sandy allen are you experiencing neuropathy also did you say. I spoke to nurse other day and she said mine was vascular insufficinecy,i googled it and it seems alot like neuropathy,my pain has abated somewhat but I am finding joint pain now. Am hoping this will subside. Am still taking 200mgs 3 times a day hooray for this drug..

Hi . . Not sure what dr will say. I don't want to stop taking lyrica, since it's helped me quite a bit. Sometimes I feel like it's helping more than other times.. But overall it has helped. I've been out of town a lot this summer, so i've been eating out a lot. I'm hoping that being home now and being able to have a more regular exercise routine will help.

Greetings all. I stumbled on this forum looking up info on lyrica and i'm glad I did! Geezer, I had been taking lyrica for almost a year, varying dosages, averaging a total of 200-250 mg a day. About a month ago, I had the same thing you are experiencing, feet and ankles and calves and hands and fingers swelled up like crazy. I called my pcp and he told me to get to the er. To make a long story short, the swelling was edema, fluid retention and it got in my lungs and I nearly died from it. Spent a week in the hospital getting back to normal. I've confirmed it with my pain management doc that it is an infrequent side affect of lyrica.

Anyway, I have quit taking it and am exploring other options. It's a shame as it did help with my chronic back pain. (herneated l4, annular tear in l5, stenosis, sciatica, sacroiliitus, fluid in the facets, yadda yadda yadda...)

great looking forum here!

So sorry to hear about your ordeal good thing you went to er. I have noticed some joint pain and my hands I cant make a fist ,i can barely pick anything up let alone my grandkids. My strength is not what it used to be any suggestions?The lyrica has helped I have been taking 200mgs 3 times a day for about 2 to 3 months now it is a gradual relief ,at night my feet are in such pain they feel like they are burning ..I also have noticed well my daughter has noticed since taking lyrica when I go to bed I take 200mgs plus tylenol with sleep aide, that after about 2 hours of sleeping I get up and walk around now I have in the past done some sleep walking dont know if this is a side affect or just past issues arising again. Has anyone else experienced sleepwalking or distrurbed sleep such as this?Thank you

How is everyone doing? I do hope your pains have eased.Any one out there still taking lyrica and experiencing side affects?Thank you!!

When I say I cant pick my grandkids up did I mention I am only 44 yrs old.Does anyone have joint pain due to lyrica or neuropathy or vascular insufficiecny? I am begining to worry about lupus or some awful arthritis.My hands swell and my joints are so painful I have some bad rash and redness on my face,some may think its rosacea. I dont know. Are these side affects of the lyrica or should I see my doc for this..Im guessing he thinks I am a hypochondriac, I dont know really what to do any comments or suggestions would be greatly apreciated. Thank you

I was just recently diagnosed with bulging discs, a herniated disc, and spinal stenosis...my symptoms were severe pain in rt. hip, knee, ankle felt like it was on fire, and numbness in rt. foot and leg.
after the lumbar injection of cortisone, I was prescribed lyrica. I have been on it two weeks now, and my main complaint is extreme tiredness.
BUT..I am sleeping pain free for the first time in months.
not sure if it is the injection or lyrica
I hope I do not get the weight gain, as I just lost 25 pounds on WW!
I see my dr. in two weeks...teh numbness is worse, and I am experiencing pain behind my rt. thigh. (could it be muscle pain from the lyrica?)
louise32

Is it ok to take hydrocodene 7.5/500's with Lyrica ?

I have the following meds in my med cabinet since the start of this injury, None of it really works...

Hydrocodene 5/500
Oxycodene 7.5/500
Flexerall 10mg
Tramadol (various doses)
Celebrax
Lyrica 100mg
Hydrocodene 7.5/500

I am taking 75 mg twice in the morning and twice at night of Lyrica and Cymbalta 30 mg for nerve pain, aches and pains, fatigue, depression, etc. The both help for man many symptoms and yes they work very well, for me they do. I would not dare go a day without Lyrica or Cymbalta because they work so well. I think that the Cymbalta is great because I am not tired at all during the day like I used to be and I have a less appetite and have lost weight and pains not so severe. I love the lyrica because it has really helped with the pains, that is the only thing that I have noticed with that one but it really works well enough for me to say where has this pill been all of my life. It works better than Advil and yes it is like a miracle pill in my opinion because it makes vertually almost all of my pains disappear!

Honey if none of these medications are helping than you need to seek help. I mean oxycodene is VERY STRONG and has a lot of un-wanted side effects. They even give this like morphene to CANCER patients who suffer from horrible pains. Maybe your body is immune from taking so many medicaitons. I can say that I rarely take pain medications or any meds but Lyrica has really worked for me and many people swear by this med. The only thing stronger that you can try is morphene but no one is going to give you that because like oxycodene it is highly addictive. You need to get down to the cause, instead of trying to cover up with medications. I am not trying to be mean but I am somewhat un-sympathetic of people and I know lots of people who are prescription drug attics, especcially for pain meds so you need to get down to the cause of your problmes if you do not know allready and then maybe you wll feel better because those meds that you mentioned are very good for pains.

I am on Lyrica 75 mg 2- 3x per day. I also take Mirapex for RLS. I have idiopathic perpherial neuropathy and RLS for more than 3 years. Gabapentin was the first choice of drugs but were not effective,so neurologist put me on Lyrica, It certainly helps. The only draw back is rapid weight-gain and bloating, I also have a water pill,which does not do a lot of good. Tomorrow I am scheduled for an MRI with IV sedation as I am totally claustrophobic. Anyone ( survivers ) out there have an MRI with sedation and how did it work?

I have read all of the above posts about Lyrica and feel much the same way as each of you. I began Lyrica 7 months ago for a combination of back pain, fibromyalgia, and neuropathy pain and burning. What a wonderful addition to my life Lyrica has been & in stopping the neuropathic pain which was next to unbearable especially at night. It has also been great in helping with Fibromyalgia symptoms too, but not completely. Still enough that I am very grateful. As for my back pain, it still exists with a vengeance and I am unfortunately looking at having back surgery soon, for; herniated discs, spinal bone spurs, etc in the L4,L5, and S1 area. I also have coccyx pain problems from a old accident. These problems have begun to create new structural deformities and problems... so it is time to nip them now before they do more damage.

While the Lyrica has been great in helping with these issues, the side effects are terrible. I am not only sleepy and groggy much of the day but I also stagger when I walk and have to be careful. I believe it is effecting my vision, as well as my dexterity. I too can fall asleep now at the drop of a hat, even caffiene doesn't help bail me out . I use to have to be careful with caffeine and had a hard time getting to sleep before. One of the worse things Lyrica has caused for me, is that I seem to struggle with some short term memory situations. I can no longer remember people's names worth beans. And like others have mentioned gaining weight seems to be a big problem. The doc says these are all just side effects that will go away.

I am now up to 300 mgs at night and 150 mgs in the am. I do experience break through pain about 3pm and this weird feeling like someone punched me in the stomach. Then my joints and muscles begin to ache. My regular pain meds are 5mgs of Levorphanol 2 times daily. This is a narcotic med. I also take, at the request of my doctor; a good multi vitamin, Omega 3 and 6 oils twice a day and 750 - 1000 mg of chelated Magnesium broken up through out the day for sever magnesium depletion & muscle spasms. The latter has helped a great deal. I take the mag to bowel tolerance... that is when I know I have finally gotten enough. Lastly I take 2 Tylenol Quick Release tabs when I feel break through pain (1 or 2 times daily.)

With the Lyrica I sleep much better due to the lack of pain and neuropathic pain and burning. What a blessing. But I also seem to require a great deal more sleep now too, which is hard because I feel I need a mid day nap. With Lyrica I also feel like I have less anxiety which is wonderful since I have several big stressors in my life right now. But due to the groggy feeling and the unsteadiness of my legs and my lack of dexterity, I am also able to accomplish as any more. I don't like the weight gain but it is something I will have to deal with ASAP. Getting myself out of pain and to be a better functioning adult again is more important right now. One other symptom I noticed, is that when I am really in need of another dose of Lyrica, I get this terrible burning, anxious, creepy feeling all over. I won't be able to sleep and it is awful. If I take a Lyrica it goes away with in a very short time and I can go back to sleep again.

Will the side effects improve with time? This is a big question. I want to think so, and my doc has said that the medication stabilizes in a few weeks. I disgree I think it takes a few months. Before they recently raised the dosage I am taking, I went through this same thing with a dosage of 50 mgs 3 times a day. Then suddenly the cloud began to lift and I was feeling very normal again. After a wonderful month of not being so tired, dizzy, and/or staggering, the doctor raised my dosage to what it is now. I just pray that like before, in a month or so, the cloud will again lift and life will be wonderful again.

All I want is to be able to live so I can help my family, my grandkids, and be a good friend doing acts of service. It is hard to do that when I am struggling with this pain and to take care of my medical issues. I know many of you are not so different than I am.

Best wishes, Smilenhappy

I was on Lyrica after my decompression and fusion and had bad results. It didn't help and gave me headaches. I switched to Neuontin and it works good. The docs are pushing Lyrica because its new, but neurontin is cheaper and has been around forever.

I am on Oycontin and Lyrica. AMAZINGLY the Lyrica seems to be working and I just started today!! I tried Neurontin and had a reaction to it, but this seems to work.

i tryed 2 take lyrica 2 times it made me woobly and felt weird i quit and told my dr. he changed me to neurotin. this works 4 me . everyone is different u may not be able to take the lyrica , but neurtion works 4 me. nothing stops my pain. but u do have a choice. i can't take n=said eityer they make me bleed through bowels ever since i took celebrax. hope it hekps u . linda

Hi Lyrica users! Help! ...I'm worried about the weight gain. I'm a personal trainer and in Physical Therapy school, and I have back pain that is unbearable at times. I've tried everything and just this week a doc put me on Lyrica, i'm taking 75mg. For the people who have experienced weight gain, do you workout?? Do you watch what you eat? Or is the weight gain inevitable? Also so far the drug just makes me dizzy for about half the day. Thanks for any insight on this!!

Hi Porter--I tired the Lyrica and it made me feel very weird and hallucinate..I also got heart palpitations..I could not take it long enough to find out about weight gain..Hopefully you will not experience any bad symptoms..Good luck with the meds and your back..k

I have been on Lyrica for several months now for migraines. It seems to help lessen their occurances but does not do much for the pain itself. My question is, has anyone had any problem with neck or ear pain since taking Lyrica? I am having horrible pain in and around my right ear. Three Doctors have looked at it and no one seems to know what's causing it or how to fix it. I believe that the pain started soon after I began taking Lyrica and I was curious if anyone else has had a similar reaction. Thanks, Lois

I have been taking Lyrica for back pain for over a year now. This pain started shortly after college in 1975 and I have managed it by exercising my stomach and pain, being careful how I sit - Herman Miller chairs were a life saver; and using lots of pillows to prop me up as I sleep. This management routine had worked for decades but a year ago, I started getting the pain on a more consistent basis and I may have pushed my exercise routine too much.
An MRI showed that my lowest vertebra was bulging so bad that you could barely see the spinal cord. The Lyrica was recommended by two doctors so I started using it at 150 mg per day. It took a couple weeks for it to build up in my system and I did experience what I refer to as being loopy. This passed but how do I know? I honestly feel the brain adapted to it. After two months the doctor recommended backing down to 75 mg which I did and the pain seems to be controlled. The Lyrica does nothing for muscular or skeletal pain, just nerve pain.
Occasionally the dosage has to be increased for a week or so but I try to back it down when the pain seems to be under control again. I regularly play golf and I'm doing fine. But I cant forget a day and skip a dose. It seems to be essential to keep up the exercise and daily consistent use of the Lyrica. I hope this helps someone. Pain is awful to live with and the Lyrica has been very good for my situation.

I took lyrica for pain from herniated disc for about 3 months and noticed weight gain(constantly hungry) severe concentration problems. Because I couldn't accomplish anything I slowly weaned myself off and went to see my doctor to let her know that I was. Coming off it I experienced severe skin burning and aching knees and elbows when fatigue. I have been off it for about 6 or 7 months and its not as severe as often as it was in the first 3 or so months & my doctor says its not from the lyrica, but I never experienced before I herniated my disc. They gave me Demerol & morphine in the hospital upon 2 occasions & the 4th time the gave me doloted(not sure how that's spelled) then they gave me hydro codeine & soma for home I took that along with lyrica. My concentration problems is still a little of an issue as well, made my ADD worse & I'm 50.