[sweetcell]

Hi,

I have 2 questions:

1. my husband has been given Lyrica for his neuropathy (the full history is in the post "thoughts on neuropathy".

He started at 75mg 2 times a day. It got rid of the larger pain like the burning, tingling, pins and needles feelings in his feet and legs but left the itching and tickling feeling. So it was increased to 75 in the am and 150 in the evening. It didn't make much difference so it was increased to 150 2 times a day.

The change clearly seemed to make a very pronounced difference in his memory. He was trying for the world laptop and had to say "small computer". So his memory has been impaired but along with it has come a very nasty anger streak.

He wakes up angry and complains and gets upset over every little thing. If you don't agree with him than that is also cause for an argument. After a few hours it subsides a little but he is prone to mood swings and can get very angry in a flash. He's also easily anxious and excitable.

We're on day 4/5 of this now and I'm wondering if this is normal. Does this subside at any point or is there some sort of break in period for a higher dose.

I guess I'm used to him on Paxil where he's more even keel and laid back. So that can be part of it but the anger is not at all like him at all. I need some hope that this will go away as even the kids are picking up on it.


2. I also know the higher dose still isn't dealing with everything and he still has itching and the restless legs feeling. He sleeps primarily all day long and is awake all night long. He has tried to switch it but the restless feeling at night makes it hard to sleep.

Can you have Neuropathy and Restless legs and then what? the Paxil seemed to treat the Restless Legs and I think we needed to treat the nerve pain to see if he really had restless legs as we thought it was all encompassing as Neuropathy but there clearly seems to be 2 issues here.

So could he take Paxil for the restless legs as it treated it before and Lyrica for the nerve pain? I'm thinking 2 of those things would be a bad combo. Mirapex made him sleep 18 hours a day so that is out.

[Sophie_]

Hi Sweetcell,
I'm sorry to hear about your husbands problems, I took Lyrica for my back pain for some years and i'm very aware that it takes time for your body to adjust to it, I remember my Dr telling me to work up to the larger mg, 50 to 75 to 150 and I built this up over several months. It certainly did help with my nerve pain once I built up to the 150 twice a day.
Regarding the itch, and I take an antihistimine every day for this, I love a cold tiled floor for the foot burn and restless legs. Now I have a spinal cord stimulator and this I turn up when my legs become restless.

Generally speaking I would very much recommend speaking to your Doctor or Pharmacist about the drugs as they really are the ones that know these drugs inside out.
Best of luck with everything

Sophie

[im4dexter]

Good Morning. I take Lyrica 300mg twice a day for nerve pain and spasms. I've never had anything like what you've described. My suspicion, not knowing history or age and not being a doctor, is there's something else going on. It may be the lack of paxil or it could be something like a TIA. Either way, I would think your best bet would be to get to the doctor as soon as possible. He probably doesn't even notice the change in behavior. But it sounds like whatever it is needs to be checked. Best of luck to you and all of us.

Originally Posted by sweetcell

Hi,

I have 2 questions:

1. my husband has been given Lyrica for his neuropathy (the full history is in the post "thoughts on neuropathy".

He started at 75mg 2 times a day. It got rid of the larger pain like the burning, tingling, pins and needles feelings in his feet and legs but left the itching and tickling feeling. So it was increased to 75 in the am and 150 in the evening. It didn't make much difference so it was increased to 150 2 times a day.

The change clearly seemed to make a very pronounced difference in his memory. He was trying for the world laptop and had to say "small computer". So his memory has been impaired but along with it has come a very nasty anger streak.

He wakes up angry and complains and gets upset over every little thing. If you don't agree with him than that is also cause for an argument. After a few hours it subsides a little but he is prone to mood swings and can get very angry in a flash. He's also easily anxious and excitable.

We're on day 4/5 of this now and I'm wondering if this is normal. Does this subside at any point or is there some sort of break in period for a higher dose.

I guess I'm used to him on Paxil where he's more even keel and laid back. So that can be part of it but the anger is not at all like him at all. I need some hope that this will go away as even the kids are picking up on it.


2. I also know the higher dose still isn't dealing with everything and he still has itching and the restless legs feeling. He sleeps primarily all day long and is awake all night long. He has tried to switch it but the restless feeling at night makes it hard to sleep.

Can you have Neuropathy and Restless legs and then what? the Paxil seemed to treat the Restless Legs and I think we needed to treat the nerve pain to see if he really had restless legs as we thought it was all encompassing as Neuropathy but there clearly seems to be 2 issues here.

So could he take Paxil for the restless legs as it treated it before and Lyrica for the nerve pain? I'm thinking 2 of those things would be a bad combo. Mirapex made him sleep 18 hours a day so that is out.

[2Hopeis?]

I have been on Lyrica Cv 50mg. 3x a day for about a month now. The first dose in the morning seems to make me really dizzy, unsteady, difficulty concentrating, some confusion. Dry mouth all day. However it is helping with the burning and tingling in my legs and back. My legs are still weak and can't stand for long or sit. My feet seem to still have problems with feeling and balance is way off. The pain has lessoned some. It does get better as the day goes on. 2nd & 3rd dose don't seem to give me this problem. I have herniated Discs @ S1- L5. I was put on the Lyrica for the nerve damage which has gotten worse over the years. This has been going on for ten yrs. Do I continue to take this medication or work it out? I am also concerned about my back and legs. If I don't have the surgery, what are my chances of being unable to walk? I'm already half way there. Called the doctor,now am waiting for a call back. I really don't mind if I get the weight gain, I need it! Lost weight due to being on Duregesic patch a long time ago and can't seem to gain it back. Does anyone have any ideas on how to gain weight. I have tryed Ensure 3 X a day. Didn't help. I'm eating 3 meals a day and in between. Sleep seems to be my only option when I'm feeling the effects of this medication. Any advice would be nice. Thanks.

[Lilbit2004]

Hello, I have been perscibed this medicine for neuropathy and for my neurofibromatosis, neurofibromatosis causes tumors everywhere to grow which hurt like crazy, itch as well. They want me on this before they do surgery to remove some, around 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with courpel tunnel in both hands.
This medicine does help me sleep like a baby, but makes me angry , makes me so angry I snap at the littlest things and I have been on it since 3/29/17. It doesn't help the pins and needles feeling, and im still tired in the morning but that could be a combo of med and my thyroid.
I would talk to the perscribing doctor to see if there is anything else they are able to do without the harsh side effects like anger.
Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to a dr first and if you decide to stop without consent, slowly taper off like for one week take regular dose, then next week take half dose, and the following week take half dose, then the week after take every other night before bed then stop. But my advice is to talk to the doctor first.
He will get through this, you will too. Just stay by his side, if at all possible secretly voice record his outbursts of anger and play them for the dr so he or she knows whats going on.
God bless you

[ger715]

Originally Posted by Lilbit2004

Hello, I have been perscibed this medicine for neuropathy and for my neurofibromatosis, neurofibromatosis causes tumors everywhere to grow which hurt like crazy, itch as well. They want me on this before they do surgery to remove some, around 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with courpel tunnel in both hands.
This medicine does help me sleep like a baby, but makes me angry , makes me so angry I snap at the littlest things and I have been on it since 3/29/17. It doesn't help the pins and needles feeling, and im still tired in the morning but that could be a combo of med and my thyroid.
I would talk to the perscribing doctor to see if there is anything else they are able to do without the harsh side effects like anger.
Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to a dr first and if you decide to stop without consent, slowly taper off like for one week take regular dose, then next week take half dose, and the following week take half dose, then the week after take every other night before bed then stop. But my advice is to talk to the doctor first.
He will get through this, you will too. Just stay by his side, if at all possible secretly voice record his outbursts of anger and play them for the dr so he or she knows whats going on.
God bless you

Not sure you noticed; but some posts may be from a year or more ago...
This post was from 2011.

Gerry

[John Nevro User]

Originally Posted by Lilbit2004

Hello, I have been perscibed this medicine for neuropathy and for my neurofibromatosis, neurofibromatosis causes tumors everywhere to grow which hurt like crazy, itch as well. They want me on this before they do surgery to remove some, around 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with courpel tunnel in both hands.
This medicine does help me sleep like a baby, but makes me angry , makes me so angry I snap at the littlest things and I have been on it since 3/29/17. It doesn't help the pins and needles feeling, and im still tired in the morning but that could be a combo of med and my thyroid.
I would talk to the perscribing doctor to see if there is anything else they are able to do without the harsh side effects like anger.
Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to a dr first and if you decide to stop without consent, slowly taper off like for one week take regular dose, then next week take half dose, and the following week take half dose, then the week after take every other night before bed then stop. But my advice is to talk to the doctor first.
He will get through this, you will too. Just stay by his side, if at all possible secretly voice record his outbursts of anger and play them for the dr so he or she knows whats going on.
God bless you

I just made a post about Lyrica. I personally it poisonous attributes make it one of the worse drugs on the market. So few people have good results with this dug. I had every contraindication written on the packet. I read it afterwards when my wife told me I had become a monster. I felt suicidal. I felt miserable beyond words. I got off of it, and vowed never to touch that stuff again. The previous post may have been from 2011, but this person is asking now, so what difference does that make? It just shows that this drug stinks, and people have been having problems with it for a very long time.

[caroline2]

Originally Posted by John Nevro User

I just made a post about Lyrica. I personally it poisonous attributes make it one of the worse drugs on the market. So few people have good results with this dug. I had every contraindication written on the packet. I read it afterwards when my wife told me I had become a monster. I felt suicidal. I felt miserable beyond words. I got off of it, and vowed never to touch that stuff again. The previous post may have been from 2011, but this person is asking now, so what difference does that make? It just shows that this drug stinks, and people have been having problems with it for a very long time.

Just found this Ask A Patient site and here is what is being said about Lyrica...I have NEVER taken it nor would I even consider. One can look up any pharma drug.

LYRICA: Side effects, ratings, and patient comments