Hi Folks,
I have recently been diagnosed with Anti-MAG Polyneuropathy which is a rare hereditory autoimmune form of Peripheral Neuropathy. I went to see my Neurologist today and she wants me to take Lycira to lessen my symptoms. I have said I will try them but that I am not very keen on using Medication especially as I've read that the side-effects can be very bad.

My symptoms at the moment are mostly vibrating/tingling sensations in my feet, legs and hands but apart from occasional toe cramps I don't suffer from a lot of pain as it seems so many other people do. Just last week my feet started to feel a tingling cold at night but my feet were warm to the touch.

Today I've been reading about Lycira and there seems to be quite a few side effects and I am shocked reading peoples withdrawal experiences when they come off it. I have to say it frightens me and now I question if I should take it, especially as I'm not in great amounts of pain, just bad discomfort.

Can people please tell me their experiences with Lycira both pros and cons. I don't start the treatment till mid August so I still have time to make up my mind.
Thanks in advance for any help
Cheers Mel

Welcome Mel2014.

Someone will be along to help.

Welcome Mel. I tried Lyrica twice and couldn't stay on it. I personally became severely depressed both times after only two weeks of taking it.

I believe there are others here that have success with it.
Hopeful

I cook lyrica. No side effects. It didn't help with my post stroke pain but it helped with my North happy from another issue. I came off it i had no problem

Hi,
My Neurologist put me on Lyrica 75mg twice a day, my Rheumy doubled the dose when I told her it was not helping. When I upped it to the 300mg- 150mg twice a day, I noticed that I started having brain fog and blurred vision, so I stopped it a week ago. I may try it again, but it didn't help the burning pain much. I had no other side effects, besides the fog and blur.
I would say it is worth a try, not many other choices out there.
Hope this helps.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your replies, everyones experience helps me.

I've not had good experiences from taking medication in the past. I have just recently stopped taking blood thinners and I am amazed at how much better I feel in a general sense. Not great, but more like my old self. Hence I'm not keen on starting new medication which has dubious side effects and I'm just scared of feeling generally unwell again.

Please keep the experiences coming, I feel less alone as I don't have anyone at home to talk to.
Cheers Mel

I couldn't take Neurontin because it made me suicidal. Because Lyrica is related my doctor wouldn't give it to me.

I take Ultram for the nerve pain. It mutes it.

Pros- it actually does work to some extent for nerve pain
- you know you need this drug when you put up with the side effects and for some that can be life saving or buy you time until you can learn alternative coping mechanisms
Cons- long term it messes with just about all of your body and makes coming off it very hard.
I believe the drug company has made the ultimate drug from their point of view. It does have benefit where nothing else works. Once you are on it, you believe you cannot live without it. The long term side effects are not good but it is very difficult to withdraw from in the long term.
So weigh up your life expectations. At the time I started this drug I wasn't expected to live very long so withdrawal wasn't an issue. The universe has other plans and I have been surviving the nerve damage from a spinal tumour for over 16 years. I now think long term and know my life will be better without this drug. I have learnt to cope.

Lyrical made me retain fluid bad! This is one of the side effects!

Welcome Frankallen.