Saw my GP for a follow up today about my workplace, and relapse I suffered the end of September/start of October 2011. It's still 'ongoing' in a sense - I still have eye issues, and get dreadful headaches if I am looking at PCs, etc for too long.

Today she wrote me a work 'exception' to reduce my activities, per her orders, to 1 role only. They keep stacking responsibility on us at work. What was a job I loved a lot, turned into a complete nightmare. Let's put it this way, I told my manager I'd be unable to make the average 'targets' (everything, and I do mean everything, is counted/measured and pressure is on daily). She flat out told me I could either try my best, or go on a work accommodation (1 role only, of course.. probably no shiny raises, but sometimes the money just isn't worth it).

So that's the good news - she didn't hesitate to write me into a 1 role work accommodation. HUGE relief for me, especially on those tougher days when I just can't pull it together 100%.

My concern: Lyrica. This is visit #3 in which I'm telling her that I don't believe Lyrica's a benefit at all. She wants me to continue taking it! Very adamant that she wants me to keep trying it. I don't honestly believe it has helped what so ever.

I know it can take a while to work... but how long honestly? It's been 2-3 months I've been taking it now. She didn't suggest a dose increase (50mg at night I believe I am taking, pill bottle's not nearby to confirm).

It's a small dose yes... it's also a very expensive medication which I don't feel is more than flour in a gel capsule. :\

I don't want to get my doctor angry at me where she's been so understanding about the work situation, so I bit my tongue yet again and I'll keep taking my 'flour' pills. Ahh doctors, fun times.

I wish you the best of luck. Headaches are awful and will quickly ruin any progress you think you are making. Perhaps somedays you can do well, and some days you will need the restriction.

Honestly I would just tell the doc you are taking the Lyrica and then don't. Theres nothing wrong with being your own advocate. You know the drug is not working for you, then don't take it. Its another drug your liver has to try and process.

Just keep telling her it is not working for you but don't keep taking it. You should have seen some benefit after a couple weeks.
Next time you visit the doc, you really need to let her know that the drug does nothing for you. She is not listening to you on this one and that is not fair.

Hi, I just wanted to say hello and tell you I don't think what you are doing with not wanting to take the medication is wrong. If you have been on this med. for that long, and can tell no difference, then I wouldn't take it either. Once you are off the medication, if there is no difference, you would be correct and know for sure. I have had several medications that offered no benefit, that I called in about. I was told to keep on taking it, though I had for a month with no relief. I stopped anyway at the risk of my doctor getting annoyed with me. It was morphine, and I refused to up the medication as it did no good for the type of pain I was experiencing. You are your own best advocate. I do not know alow about lyrica, make sure you can stop it suddenly without side effects, and then maybe do as I did, and write a note to your doctor telling him why you acted as you did. I got a phone call back from my pain specialist acknowleding me and he allowed me a choice with what I wanted to do. We can't be afraid of our physicians. We are the ones who have to live with the disorders. I really do wish you all the best and I hope there is a medication that works better that you will be allowed to try. You can ask, it doesn't hurt to do so. Have a good valentines day. ginnie

That is good news, Laura.. As far as the lyrica, I would try it for a little while longer to see if it works and then, use your own better judgement on whether you should continue it.

Good on the work adjustment!

No experience w Lyrica- sorry.
ANN

Thanks all, and SallyC, I think I'm going to do exactly this. Hopefully I'll see a good change/benefit eventually. If not, I'll bring it up yet again with the GP when I see her in a couple months.