I am taking Lyrica, I started on 7 March one week at 100mg next week at 200 mg next week at 300 mg and I am now up to 400mg. The last few days my pain levels have dropped, I still have pain but it is better than it was. I add tramadol as and when I need it. The dose recommended by neuro number 1 was 600 mg. Neuro number 2 suggested dropping off the dose to see how pain was (NO WAY am I doing that –more about Neuro no 2 later)

When I started taking the Lyrica I had really bad side effect, I felt drunk, then I felt spaced out, confused and cannot remember things – short term memory only. Although I am not as bad as I was when I started the Lyrica I still feel “drugged up” I have confusion and lack of concentration – brain fog. In other peoples experience do the side effects go away with time, how long might this take? I must try and get back to work but there is NO WAY I can feeling like this. I certainly will not be increasing the dose because of the pain relief it gives but on the other hand I cannot tolerate these side effects for much longer. I need to get back to work but the way I am now I can’t even type properly! I keep hoping each day the side effect will get less but each day I am disappointed.

Any experiences or thoughts to share out there?

Lupin

It can take at least a week- if not 3 or 4, at each increase,
for s/e to subside.
How long have you been at 400? I would give it 3-4 weeks at 400.
If s/e persist, it may be time to try other meds that don't have
negative side effects.
It is a compromise tho. You will have to trade off the pain relief and the s/e until you find a med that's right for you. We're all different, and that's why over 75 meds are used to treat PN.(I have an .xls complete listing of the meds that have been mentioned on these boards over the last 5 years, as a reference)
I find a constant dose of tramadol (every 4-6 hrs) is necessary, along with the Lyrica (Neurontin before I switched) to keep both pain and symptoms under control. Most of us use a combination of meds to control PN pain and symptoms. No one drug alone seems to do the trick.

Hi glad your back Can't give you any thing better than what Bob B just gave you.Your feeling the way a lot of do and a lot of good luck Please keep coiimg back..Sue

PROMISE me, you will READ and memorize these whole prescribing info sheets...

Lyrica: http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/download/uspi_lyrica.pdf S/E's start about page 40?
Neurontin: http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/downloa..._neurontin.pdf S/E's start about page 11 on...

These are important to know as YOU may be one of the fortunate few to 'experience' the lesser reported s/e's..

for me, on neurontin it was the 'hallucinations' that clinched it- the sci-fi 'spider creatures' in my peripheral vision weren't 'my friends'. Not to mention the sleeping 16-18 hours a day in 2 -3 hour 'fits. But, that was me.

More important is to KNOW what s/e's any med can possibly produce, report it to the mfr, then to the FDA...most docs don't seem to bother.. We should care, not only about ourselves but others. While each of us is different, and therefore 'reacts' differently to any med...it can get sort of 'squirrelley' when we are on different meds for different, seemingly unrelated things...

BobB is right, a lot of it all is the trade off...finding the right combo for YOUR diagnosis and not only your pain but how you want to live with or without it..

As in dealing with docs and dealing with THIS, dealing with the meds means work, hard work in being informed about it all. Once informed, making your own decisions about what's best for you - YOU will know! Sometimes finding the best resources [docs, meds, therapies, supplements, whatever] is an accident, other times, its heaven? Keep at it- you are smart and are learning AND will get there! - j

Thanks all,

Bob, I have been on 400 mg for just over 3 weeks.

Dahkek, thanks for the links, I have read them and I seem to have the lack of concentration and the abnormal thinking, which is defined as “difficulty with concentration/attention but also includes events related to cognition and language problems and slowed thinking”

The Lyrica if definitely giving me good pain relief, I still have pain but it is manageable so I will stick with it and hope the side effects lessen, if they do not then I will have to decide whether to try a different medication. The problem seems to be that the medications available for neuropathic pain fall into the same class of drugs, anti seizures or anti depressants so we really don’t have a lot of choices available! As you may recall I really need to get back to work but as my job require high level thinking and problem solving this is going to be problematic!

As ever your responses to my post have helped me move forward on my journey of getting to grips with all this.

Hi Lupin, i found a lot of relief with 300mg Tramadol slow release x 2 per day really helped me with no brain fog at all.
Prior to the Trammadol i tried Neurotin & Oxycontin both meds made a zombie out of me, i just couldn't take either of them, thats just me though, as we can react differently to whatever drugs.
good luck
Brian

Hi Lupin,
It took me over a year to get to the dosage you went to in one month. Tramadol was added 6 months after the start. Tried taking Cymbalta (at my request) with the mix 2 months ago (it only mulitipied the side effects). Doctors sure differ in their prescribing. Anyway today I take one 75mg Lyrica in AM under the tongue, followed by 100mg Tramadol (1 hour wait) 75mg Lyrica at 5 PM with 100 Tramadol and 100mg Tramadol at bedtime. More might be better but I have found Less is best when you take into account the side affects. Excessive weight gain, chronic constipation, dry mouth, brain fog, decrease of mobility are just a few, nobody can attest as to the long term effects. My one plus is being retired as there is no way I could hold a job (unless it was testing a couch) Dahlek has put up some must read material. I do use the Rebuilder more and it keeps the pain level about the same level as when I was on high dosages. My goal is to decrease the meds as much as possible. Good Luck to you