Hi Everyone. Have got down to 50mg but then neuropathic pain returned . also today thumping headaches and neckaches shortness of breath . Seen DOC who reckons coming off too fast so wants me to go up 50mg again as well as going on SSRI 5mg. Very confused disappointed . does anyone have experience of this situation ?

Thanks


Nick

Nick,

There have been numerous threads about getting off these two (kinds of) meds. If I had them at my fingertips, I'd post them, but I'd rather you looked into it yourself for your own edification/peace of mind.

If you are off of SSRI completely, and off of any other meds/supplements that affect serotonin, you may be able to get around going back on the SSRI with L-tryptophan—the natural precursor to serotonin & melatonin.

There's a lot of information about this on the web and in the archives, and your doctor should be amenable.

Doc

Is your doctor introducing a new drug to deal with your ongoing pain?

Hi Hockey and Doc , My Doc is just keeping on Lyrica and introducing SSRI as Well. Admits it's difficult to treat my neuropathy so trial and error . Bit apprehensive because of what I've gone through so far. Even talked of maybe getting neurologist involved !


Regards

Nick

I don't think it would, necessarily, be a bad idea to get a specialist involved. He/she is likely to be more familiar with the available drugs and have more experience using them.

Your case might just be too much for the average GP.

If they are giving you SSRIs, are you under the supervision on a psychiatrist or psychologist? Too many PCP hand those things out like candy.

Hi Hockey, No, no psychiatrist etc involved . Yeah , you,ve got me thinking neurologist could be a good way to go .


Regards


Nick

Hey Nick, it's horrid we get to encounter this experience without our doctors taking the extra minute to explain in a meaningful language what may happen.

I suffer with persistent headaches but when I tapered off lyrica the headache became almost unbearable and my emotions were raw. My GP referred me again to my psych who immediately put me on 50mg pristiq, within a week the headache was tolerable and the raw emotion under control. I chose to continue with the tapering off of lyrica and was able to stop it entirely not long after. If you need to increase it for a bit longer until your body can better manage the reduction it is not a bad thing or the end of the world. Everyone reacts differently and trying to function on a day to day basis with chronic pain, additional headaches and neuropathy is not for the faint hearted. Do what you need to do to get by, drink plenty of water and know that so long as you have a plan to manage your bodies dependence and you are working towards achieving it, you will gradually feel a sense of satisfaction and the angst you are suffering now will become a distant memory.

Doctors often use statements such as "it is difficult to treat" when they have reached the extent of their ability. A GP has to cover a broad spectrum of illnesses and your illness may not be one he or she encounters regularly so their experience can be limited. It is good he or she is talking of referring you to someone who specialises in your condition rather than having the ongoing hit and miss.

Hi Just wanted to echo hockeys comments. It gave me a great boost of encouragement.

Thanks

Nick