Lycria for fibro | Arthritis Information

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01656.html

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/fibromyalgia062107.html

I posted yesterday that the rheumy just started me on lycria for the secondary fibro I have. Above are a couple of links I found, nothing overly informative.

I tried to take lycria earlier this year but started at a higher dose and it made me too dizzy. I started at 25mg last night. I took it at 8pm along with my night drugs, ambien, xanax and zanalfex. I got to sleep just fine but woke up with a nasty bugger of a headache. All day I have felt off, I am more tired, I am dizzy and head achy and shaky. The rheumy really thinks this will help me. It is thought to help desensitize the pain receptors. I am going to give it some time and hope the side effects lessen. I thought I would update on how I am doing on it every now and again for the others on here with fibro. Its obviously too soon to tell if its helping the pain.

I have been insanely busy at work today and looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I probably won't have time to read all the posts today but will catch up Monday. Happy weekend everyone!
Hi Michele,
Looking forward to your updates on Lyrica. I have asked my doctor for it but is not a cheap drug. Nearly 0 for 36. I would appreciate any info before i spend. I have no idea how you could possibly work with fibro and ra combined with all the side effects. I take my hat off to you.

Hi Michele,

I too began Lyrica at too high a dose then dropped to 25mg at night. After 2 days I was waking up more normal and I have very little trouble with the Fibro. I now take 75mg at night with no morning hang overs and fall asleep pretty well.

I hope that you are helped by it.

Take care

I take lyrica and have been helped so much that I'm even back to work. I used to take zanaflex but found that it had wierd side effects especially when I took it with other meds. I gave that and ambien up and was able to function so much better.

I take remicade prednisone celebrex fluoxetine lyrica provigil astelin flonase advair and plavix

tiana39304.8178703704

I just started lyrica last Wednesday. I took my first night dose and even tho the RD told me that I would see some results in 2-3 days, I woke up the very next morning feeling good, having slept all night for the first time since my honeymoon period with Humira.

I have RA and fibro. My RD and I have been addressing RA for so long with some positive results, but recently my complaints drifted to the fibro side of things. For ex: brain fog, generalized achiness, poor sleep, pains in hands, hips, feet that apparently were not my usual RA pains. I also had hypersensitivity on my feet that was absolutely miserable.

Anyway, the lyrica has taken the feet pain down to about 10% of what it used to be. I am sleeping well and have much more energy. My RA pain is still there but at least it is more tolerable.

My Rd explained that fibro tends to make any pain magnified and the lyrica works to make it less. I LOVE IT!!!

Karen

Oh by the way I take 75 mg morning and night.

Thanks Michele for the post. My mom has fibro and I have been watching Lyrica for a while, thinking it may benefit her. Your experience with it is very helpful.

I will talk to her about it again.

Good luck with it. I hope it brings you relief soon.

Michele & Karen, good luck as you start the Lyrica. It has been so helpful to me with the RA, fibro and nerve pain. I had trouble in the beginning with it, and each time I took up the dose, but I'm now on 150 mg twice a day.

Thanks Inner Glow, My RD says I might have to up the dose soon, but still try to stay in a low dose area. It has been almost 2 weeks and I am still doing well, but can feel a little more pain in the feet so I will wait and see.

Karen

I am so glad to see that it is helping others!!! I have taken it now for 4 nights. Some of the dizziness is subsiding, I still have to be careful when I stand up but otherwise, the side effects are lessening. I do think I hurt less!!! My hands are still swollen but the swelling in my feet and neck has decreased.

I am really going to try and stick this out. I think I will be at the 25mg for 3 weeks, than 50 for 4 weeks, than 75 for 4 weeks. Not sure what my final dose will be.

Yes, it is a very expensive drug. It is in the highest tier copay for me and will be a month. But, she gave me a free trial coupon for the 25 mg and samples of the 50 and 75 so I can try it for three months before having to spend money on it, which is very helpful. If anyone is thinking of trying it, be sure to ask if they have samples!

I will be sure to update every week or so to let everyone know how it is progressing. I am trying to be optimistically hopeful that this will lessen my over all pain long term! I would love to reduce or even stop my pain meds and I also take ambien and zanaflex at night and if I could stop those, I think my brain fog would also lessen!

I've been taking lyrica for about a year now. I only take the nightly dose because at first it made me a little dizzy too. I've managed pretty well on this dose alone. My prescription ran out once and I waited several days to fill it. I certainly noticed how much it was helping me at that time. I however was prescribed it for some nerve pain I have in my lower legs....but I think it helps with many different symptoms as well.

Good Luck. I hope it helps you as much as it helps me.