Lyrica is helping my non diabetic neuropathy but does not address the Fibro symptoms. Go figure. I will take the improvement where I can get it and be darn greatful. Best wishes to all.

HI,
I'm new here and honestly curious to see what has been said here about Lyrica. I must be on of the oddidties on it as I have lost almost 90 pounds in the last 6 months. Granted I've been on Lyrica (150mgx3) for about 2 years now, since a German doctor prescribed it. It has helped with my all over pains and I know when I don't take it right. The pain comes back and drives me up the wall.

Just because it's listed as a side effect doesn't always mean it happens. The German pamphlet with things scares the living daylights out of me with everything they list, but with what I've experienced I fought like crazy when the new insurance I am on refused to give it to me.. YIKES.. 10 days and a lot of phone calls and they finally relented and I'm so very thankful.

Although they are similar, neurontin and lyrica are not at all the same med. It's worth trying both if you can.


I used both. I could not even toletare neurontin. Even at 300-400 mgs I felt so foggy I could barely walk and could not feel my skin. And I rarely have bad reactions to meds. It did not help any symptoms, pain or other wise, and I was so tired I did not know what was going on.

I only used it for a couple months, so I cannot say if weight gain would have been an issue for me.

I tried lyrica and it really helped the pain, plus for the first few weeks I had all sorts of energy. Completely the opposite of N.

Go figure.

I was taking 75 mgs 3x a day which is a low/moderate dose. I bumped up to 150mgs 2x, then 3 x a day. At 3x, it stopped working and I started swelling at the hands and feet.

I wonder, looking back, if I should have stayed at the lower dose - I might have been fine.

They only side effect until that point was I felt a bit stoned and gained 3-4 lbs over a few months.


Your mileage may vary. Every med is different for everybody.

All of the latest "solutions" have issues for some of us. For me Lyrica did reduce the pain BUT, my hair began to fall out - significantly. Had (some say "chose") to stop the Lyrica. Neurontin also reduced pain but increased weight - significantly (30-40 lbs) - already carrying 25 xtra lbs so this too was discontinued. Now comes Cymbalta, the latest "cure" A quick search of the posts I've made today will tell you about that less than positive experience! No pain reduction & rather than reducing depression sympts it created aggitation & anxiety instead! Not pleasant. For me: Ultram 100mg/12 hrs continues to work after 5 years!!

~ K

Hi Nancy,
Pfizer commercial was Lyrica. I am on that, have been for 2 years. It helps for the pain. But there are alot of side affect , very addictive. I am trying to get off and having a very had time. I have gained 35lbs. There are + and - so please read up on it before you take it. I my self wish I never started taking them. I am on other meds. that could have helped me though my Fibromyalgia. Be safe and good luck

hey all...Jan 19th 2009 the FDA approved a new drug called savella. It was specifically developed for fibro. It has side effects like all medicine but there is one good one! An average weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs a month. Have no idea when it will be available...it is brand new. I went to the web site and asked to be notified when available. Here is the link to read up on.
http://savella.com/

my pain mgmt doc just gave me samples of this med last week. I was hunting around here for anyone else who might be taking it. I have been on effexor for some time now, but low dose to avoid the weight gain, with wellbutrin to keep my spirits up. Together they were pretty good but somehow the last few months everything was wacky....so this month my doc suggested i give it a try.

anyone else tried it yet?

i stopped my effexor last friday, and have been ramping up the savella since thursday. definitely having some withdrawal symptoms but not nearly as bad as trying to quit effexor w/o taking something in its place. today i ramped up to the 50mg pills and actually felt sort of normal. I hope hope it works...especially the no weight gain part. i have been expanding even on a low dose of effexor.... really need to quit that!

I'm sorry.. I just had to quote this: UG. sounds like some people I know...it's like- it's in your head- everyone else can do it... why the heck can't you just DO it?

I had my 5th back surgery last year in October. Months later when I was changing to lower doses of pain killers I noticed that I was having a horrible flare with my fibro and didn't know it because of the heavy drugs I was on. I have had fibro for 30 plus years and I have never hurt so badly.

Today I went to see my GP to talk to him about pain management for my fibro, back and just my over all chronic pain. He gave me a two week sample pack of Savella that will titrate me up to the normal dose. He has seen some really great results from this drug. So...tonight is dose number one.

He also changed my pain meds and Gabapentin dose and gave me some Trazodone for bedtime to help with sleep. I have used this before and it was great!!!

Hope the side effects aren't too bad. He did warn me about the nausea...though...

I hope it helps! Let us know how it goes for you.