Lyrica

I had a rheumatology consult ten days ago..  The physician (Dr. Carl Brodie in Bellevue, WA) was very thorough and very nice.  It was a two hour consultation and I literally spent that time with the physician doing an in depth history, review of symptoms, and physical exam.  He stated that I had "Overlap Syndome" - he confirmed my fibro diagnosis (for which I was not taking any fibro specific meds), the mechanical/functional impediments that are a result of OA/DJD, and highly suspects an inflammatory disease of the bowel [I have an appointment with a GI on 08/12 to finally discuss my years of heretofor accepted chronic diarrhea, frequent bouts with gastroenteritis and fecal urgency (sorry to be so gross, but I have soiled myself on occasion) and recent struggle with what at face value appears to be dumping (although with a VSG, I should not be experiencing dumping as I have no intestinal revision)], and possible immunological disorder given my family history of rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoid, collagenous collitis, and diabetes.  I was over the moon to speak with an MD who didn't think I was crazy.  He ordered a plethora of labs and xrays of my sacrum as some of my pain/symptoms suggest some form of spondylarthropathy.

My question is about Lyrica.  He gave me samples; two bottles of 50 mg capsules and 2 bottles of 75 mg capsules and advised me to start with 50 mg at night for several days and if tolerated add morning doses and continue to titer up as tolerated.  Well, over the course of the past ten days, I have worked my way up to 125 mg twice daily.  Unfortunately, I do not feel any change in my diffuse pain, but more importantly, I am experiencing drowsiness, unclear thinking, weight gain due to increased appetite and edema (water weight due to swelling), and weirdly, taste and smell perversion.  Will these side-effects go away or should I stop while I'm ahead?  Does anyone have any suggstions for alternative meds?  I have to do somethiing.  I was in the midst of a 3 week flare when I went to the appointment and it persists.  I've been unable to leave my home for over a week.
My next appointment with Dr. Brodie is on Aug 28th.

I would greatly appreaciate any advice and words of encouragement.

Amy

I started out with Lyrica for fibro but quickly got off of it for the same reasons you list. I am currently taking Cymbalta and that is working very well for me so far. It's so hard figuring out what drugs to use because what works for one may not work for others, it's a real trial and error game. If you do go off the Lyrica, taper down or it will be very miserable. Sounds like you are getting in with the correct docs so hopefully they will get you straightened out soon.

I had to get off Lyrica for the sames reasons.  I didn't feel good on it.  Taper off and try Cymbalta.  That might work better for you.

Amy,
I am so sorry you're having such a rough time - I hope it gets better.

I just found this forum tonite so I'm new around here - I usually hang out on the Lightweight Forum and the Rants & Raves Forum...

I can only tell you what works for me - and it has worked amazingly well for 12+ years. I will say that I was diagnosed i***** developed Fibro in 1992 after the birth of my first son (traumatically fast delivery). It took me until 1999 to find a combo that worked for me.

I will add that I am "old school" as far as FMS treatment goes - not by choice, it just works and I think Docs nowadays are so interested in the latest, newest pills and whatever the pharmaceutical reps are throwing at them they forget that there are much older and more reliable treatments available (I LOVE my Rheumy!!)

I take: 

25mg - 75mg Elavil every night before bed
10mg - 20mg Flexeril every night before bed  
(the above are adjusted depending on how much sleep I can get - usual is 50mg E & 20mg F for 7 hours sleep)

I also take 1,250mg tablet of Magnesium Malate every other day. You can get info on it here: 
http://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1204 but I will say that when I started taking it in 1999, I noticed the difference in my energy levels within days - I wanted to shout it from the rooftops! It HAS to be MALATE though - it has to do with ATP synthesis during the Kreb's Cycle (energy production process) in the muscles. (You can buy it most health food stores.) I would never dream of NOT taking this ever again.

That's it. No fancy antidepressants - although the Elavil has lingering effects thru the day because if I go too many days without it, I feel really crappy and depressed. Of course I take my 20+ Vitamins every day since RNY

If I do too much or don't sleep properly (I work night shift and 3 jobs and often do 27 hour days), I have to take a Vicodin or 2 to tame the pain but as soon as I sleep, I'm good as new!

I do consider myself extremely lucky. I absolutely refused to be wheelchair-bound at the age of 24. I researched everything I could and back then that wasn't much!! I KNOW that this is all tied to sleep - if you don't sleep, I don't think it matters what else you take - ever. Sorry to be so blunt about it but I'm old school, like I said.

Good luck and soft, gentle hugs to you!

Hi there, I was on Lyrica for over a year, can't remember the dose but it was alot and very expensive. I stopped taking them because of the weight gain, and the price, I couldn't handle the $500 every 3 months (plus that not being the only med that needs filled at the time) I am now on Gabapentin (sp) thinking it would be cheaper...NOT!! Too late to turn back. I loved the prednisone, took all the pain away, felt like a new person but started packing on the weight even more...Can anyone tell me how much the Cymbalta is?