Well, we are on this discussion and I'd like to speak up. Since starting Lyrica I've finally got pretty good control of the pain but the weight gain is getting out of control. I've gained 20 pounds. When we went to Mayo they increased my Lyrica only 50 mg. and it made the difference between my eating and not eating. It also stopped those screaming piercing jolts of pain. At least I think that is what happened. I was losing weight fast before this happened and Mayo said I was starving myself to death. But the pain in my mouth is what was causing it.

We moved about 6 months ago and it really aggrevated my Rheumatoid Arthritis. I also developed a mass of stress fractures. So combine Lyrica and a very sedendary lifestyle and you get 20+ extra pounds. Now how do I get it off when I can't exercise. The neurologist is threatening to remove me from Lyrica. But I don't know if it's the Lyrica, low dose Fentanyl or the rescue hydrocodone. None of which I want to take. I'm constantly trying to skip doses, leaving the Fentanyl on one extra day, but the pain is unbearable. The stress fractures left me with one pelvic bone that is misaligned, one leg shorter than the other and one foot that will not flex. The RA has crippled a lot of my fingers and toes too. It all adds up to a miserable existance without the meds.

Now back to the weight gain. Do any of you have any guess which meds or combo of meds is causing the gain and how do I get it stopped?

Billye

P.s. We sold our house finally, we close tomorrow!! Only one to clean now and one yard to do.

Billye

Lyrica is known to be a cause of weight gain. So, live with the weight gain or come off it and perhaps increase the Duragesic patch strength.

Jesse i have had PN for ten years. The best thing that has helped my burningfeet is to put a 1/2 inch of water in a container. Then add ice a little
bit at a time . The colder you can stand the better.This also helps the swelling.

Lyrica did nothing for me. I then tried Cymbalta and it is working to keep my pain low.


George

are chemically related (and very similar). In fact they are even metabolized the same way (that is excreted WHOLE via the kidneys).

The difference is that Lyrica needs lower doses, and costs a bundle more. They work the same way however.

Some people like Lyrica better, some cannot tolerate it (it can cause a serious shortness of breath issue that Neurontin doesn't seem to), some get terrible swelling from it.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=27839
The breathing side effects are being reported more frequently now since the drug was approved for Fibromyagia (which results in more people using it)

If you are doing well on Neurontin, I wouldn't change that.

I am going to repeat my recommendation of Lidoderm patches. Placed correctly over the area of the lower back where the pudendal nerves enter the spinal cord (cauda equina) may give relief. They do not work instantly but do numb that area and prevent transmission of pain signals.
I used them for 14 days for my MP pain before they really kicked in. In fact, they STOPPED the misfiring of the lateral femoral nerve for me, so I didn't have the pain anymore so intensely. I still get mild twinges esp when I use my thighs like on the recumbent bike, or in stretching, but the stabbing pain I had for 10+ yrs is gone, the stinging gone, and 80% of the numbness gone.
This was nerve damage from a C-section.
I would try one patch cut in half and placed over that lower coccyx area on both sides of your bottom spine (just at the butt crack beginning).
If these work for you -- you may be able to get off the oral meds, entirely.

Here is a link to the anatomy--- http://www.pudendal.com/
you can see in the first illustration there that the nerves can become entrapped in several spots.
But they all run together at the spinal origin. This is where you try to interrupt the signals with the Lidoderm patches.

Thank you George and Mrsd.
I know about the Neurontin and Lyrica being similiar in action, and know that Lyrica is stronger. Also, the biovailability is higher with Lyrica than Neurontin. I knew about the higher you go on Neurontin, the less is absorbed and found that interesting, but yet wondered if that was the case, why did people go much higher on the Neurontin. Anyhow, I suppose I was wondering if I would have more of an even stream of " good days" with less burning on the Lyrica, than some unpredictability on the Neurontin. I do have good days, but then I have weeks where I spend 4 days on the couch.
I have tried lidocaine ointment, and liocaine/prilocaine cream ( EMLA) but combined with my current regime. I could not see only taking them and nothing else. I do see what you mean about the patches and the area of the spine, so it will be something to consider.
I suppose my original question should have been do people consistantly have more "good days" with a dullness or less burning on the Lyrica than they do on the Neurontin?

thanks

The Pfizer and ParkeDavis companies were the ones who encouraged doctors to use those massive doses of Neurontin.
Never mind that more than 1/2 of those high doses were not absorbed. It made them alot of money, and people just pooped out what was not absorbed.

Lyrica is not "stronger"....it is more potent, milligram for milligram. That means you use just less. It is not "more efficient for pain". It is easier to dose, and compliance on the patient's end is easier. When people have to take more pills, they often mess it up or skip. The fewer pills the better the compliance. That is why many drugs end up as Long Acting dosage forms.

I do not think I have seen any reports that Lyrica is "stronger" or more efficient at comparable doses. It is basically the same.
In general it appears that patients have to get to the really high doses of Lyrica to see good pain
relief. This is very expensive and some insurances will not pay for it still.

The fact that you do not see much relief from topical lidocaines at the local tissue level you are applying them at suggests the pain trigger is not there, but higher up along the nerves.
I found Lidoderm patches very ineffective when applied where I felt pain, and far more effective higher along the axon paths where the nerves go to. Topical lidocaine on mucus membranes may cause a rebound throbbing when they wear off. I never had a rebound when using the patches like that. (you have to take the patches off for 12 hrs each day.--you only wear them 12hrs at a time).

Thanks MrsD. Ok. I have a better understanding of the dosages. I was under the impression that becuase Lyrica had a higher bioavailablity, that it was more effective than Neurontin in that way. I understand about the dosage and taking more. My doctor mentioned that I would be starting on 2 ( 75mg tabs a day) ..
I keep a journal so I am really not sure yet. I have had some success with Neurontin. Not a level 2 pain though, more like a 3-4 with the meds.
I am also doing PT for pelvic floor so i want to see how that helps I have alot of hope that is may help the nerve and the GI issues too.
I will be seeing my gyne in december, so I can ask about the patch. That sounds like something that may work well. I do believe it is higher up the nerve as I am not sensitive to the touch ( burning) but more internal.

Thanks again, and I will see about the lidoderm patch and let you know if I get it prescribed how it works. I didnt think to put it back there.

I have been taking Lyrica for over 2 years and have had no side effects. I am small (5'3", 110lbs) and never experianced the weight gain some people speak of. I am on 600mg/ day. I would not be able to function with out it. It greatly diminishes the sharp, stabbing, shooting and burning pain I feel in my right leg, a result of damaged nerves from a car accident. I would reccomenmd trying it if your doc. thinks it would help you.

Good luck!

I'm withn you Lyrica has worked the best for me. I tried everything else>

Lyrica increases your appetite, so be prepared to gain weight unfortunately, 6-10kgs in fact.
Greg Australia