Lyrica s/e's
 

A ? re: s/e's to the long time Lyrica patients. I've been on 100mg twice daily for ~6 months. During that time I've noticed the pitting edema in my legs is now constant and has moved up my calf sufficiently that my legs no longer have real muscle definition. I had pitting edema before the PN but it was localized to the ankles and lower legs and always resolved during the night. I know s/e's of Lyrica can include edema and weight gain - just wondering if other Lyrica users knew of similar experiences.


thanks
Alkymst

Not exactly sure
 

what you mean by pitting edema. :Dunno: As you know, I have been on Lyrica since April 2006 and I do not have any edema. The doctor checks me regularly for this. I am gaining some weight, but at this point, I am thinking it is because I am not outside and not near as active as in the summer. My husband and I do walk at the mall, but sometimes weeks will go by when we don't. We need to start walking on a consistent basis to get ourselves ready for summer and yardwork. http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/5.gif Once I get outside, I hope to lose the pounds I have put on (~5-8). If not, then I will investigate if it is the Lyrica. I did not have this problem last summer. In fact, I lost almost 20 pounds from April-November. So....time will tell.

I've been on Lyrica since Sept. 2005 & haven't noticed any edema.
But I have gained over 30 lbs. Hunger, carb cravings, sugar/sweets cravings.(I'm not diabetic). Gotta try to diet (and stop smoking too- at 62, it ain't easy).

Pitting edema
 

Diana, my understanding is that pitting edema is defined as an excess of fluid under the skin shown by pressing a finger into the skin - if a depression or pit remains after ~10 sec it's considered pitting edema - a common symptom of people w/ chronic venous insufficiency. Hope that helps and thanks for the reply.
Alkymst

Lyrica
 

Bob, gee nearly 18mo and no edema - that's great! I haven't noticed a significant weight gain yet - I'm up a little, maybe 5# but that's more related to less exercise than previously - if I can get my feet and toes "fixed" it would help enormously. In any case I'll keep looking for other causes - thanks for replying.
Alkymst

Hi, my husband had to stop taking Lyrica because it made his legs so swollen. Now he is taking cymbalta.

Just wanted to share info.

Melody

Hi Melody , how is he doing on Cymbalta? Ill be getting either that or effexor next. Im on my way to the ER im pretty sure i broke my big toe though i cant tell you where or how. My feet are entirely numb. I can feel when i step on a pebble it feels like a nail but i cant tell when i hit my foot hard enought to break it...haha....Its black and blue and swollen and i cant move it. It also set off PN pain, stabbing, shocks, and the ever popular getting your toe squeezed and twisted by pliers feel. Aint PN grand?

Lyrica
 

Melody thanks for the info about Alan, I was beginning to think I might be the only person who saw this as a s/e. Let me know how he does on cymbalta please. My PCP and I talked about switching from Lyrica to Cymbalta since I assured her that w/ chronic unrelenting pain I was probably clinically depressed too - big surprise!
Thanks again - hope all goes well for you and Alan.
Alkymst

Oh you poor thing.

Alan is doing fine n the cymbalta HOWEVER, yesterday, he comes home from the gym and he says "I think I shouldn't go on the eliptical thing anymore" I said "how come", he said "I have a blister". So he relaxes the rest of the day and evening. He went to bed, he gets up and goes out to make a wash at our local laundry. He comes home at 1 p.m. and he is limping like crazy.

He has this look on his face as if to say "I should have not walked on this foot". Alan has had BIG problems with a recurring ulcer on the underside of his foot. His podiatrist and another foot guy agreed that surgery was not good for Alan. That they would further adjust his orthotics (which are at the orthotic place and will not be ready for two more weeks). So they took an old pair of his orthotics, made a temporary thing for him until his GOOD orthotics are back from the orthotic place.

Well, he is sitting at the kitchen table and I said "show me your foot". and he goes, "no, I don't want to". I said "oh brother, please show me your foot"
He takes off his sock and I have NEVER seen a thing like I saw on his foot.
It was beside the ulcer. It was like a big bubble right there (and I mean big) I said "oh my god, are you crazy, why didn't you tell me about this"? and he goes "well, it didn't look like this when I woke up this morning". I immediately called his podiatrist and he has an appointment at 2:30 on Sunday (never knew they opened on Sunday but thank goodness for that)

I looked up blisters on the internet and all it said is "It's best to prevent them". but if you have them, they just heal by themselves.

I don't care what it says on the internet, this guy has PN, recurring ulcers and needs to go to the podiatrist. I wonder if they will lance the blister. I think there is blood collecting in it because it's dark. He thinks so too. He always has trouble with blood collecting on things on the ulcer (that's why he has to go sometimes once a week and they debride it, wrap it and every morning he takes care of it like they tell him to do). He uses betadyne, an ointment, (whatever they tell him to do, he's been doing it). But he must have overdone it at the gym and did more friction on the ulcer because this is some big bubble on the foot.

So I'll go with him and I'll watch and learn and hopefully he'll listen and stay off the foot for awhile. NO MORE GYM until this thing clears up.

I do hope you feel better soon, you poor thing.

regards,
Meldy

More side effects
 

Yesterday was a really busy day. I had to run several errands and wasn't at home at my regular meals. So somehow, between exhaustion (crutches) and pain, I forgot my noontime pills including the Lyrica and when I filled my pill box a couple of days ago, I failed to put my noon and nightime dose of Lyrica in the pill box. I was in big pain last night and only slept from 10pm-1am. And this morning when I tried to eat breakfast I felt really nauseated. Stomach was upset too. I had the 75 mg. with breakfast and at noon when I went to take the noon pills, I realized I was behind by about 300 mg yesterday. Duh..I think this was all the beginning of withdrawal from the Lyrica. I took my regular dose at noon and so far I am better.

So you don't want to stop this stuff suddenly. It must be titrated downward slowly.

Billye

Got back from the ER...its not broken just badly bruised and infected. Funny you should mention the blister I have one on the same toe rubbing on my shoe. So i got antibiotics and a tetnus shot. No one believed that I had no idea what had happened to it, that i didnt feel it. Then they look at you sadly. I joke around with them all to keep them loose. I like most people except doctors....haha...go figure

More s/e's
 

Billye,
Don't know yet what course the Dr will follow re: Lyrica and Cymbalta. Her original thought was both but she'll defer to the neurologist @ UPenn who I see on the 8th of March. I know that you need to be slowly titrated off if there's a complete change of meds and I'm certainly sorry your experience confirms that big time. I'm hoping the neurologist will have some suggestions for further diagnostic testing since the PN seems to be progressing pretty quickly and not responding positively to anything I'm doing. I guage this by comparing Jan 06 to now, not just the time since I joined the forum last month.
The 2nd week of March will be another real test since the other half of the family will be away on business. Last year things took a decided turn downward, hopefully not a repeat this year. Nonetheless, it's good for her to be away even for a week - gives her some respite from dealing w/ the affects of my PN on our lives.
Glad to know that resuming your regular dose made for some real improvement for you.
Alkymst

Melody,
Thanks for the info about Alan and Cymbalta. I'm sorry to hear about his big blister - hope it resolves quickly and completely. I have to admit my mental picture of the sole of his foot w/ the blister and the ulcer ain't pretty but he must be a pretty amazing fellow based on what I've read from your threads and posts!
Alkymst

Joe,
I'm glad your ER trip was for a bruise and not a break - hope the antibiotics and tetanus shot give you a complete and speedy recovery. Take care of yourself.
Alkymst

Alkymyst:

We are off to the poditrist in about an hour. I took a look at the blister. It's right besides the ulcer, I gently pressed (with clean hands of course) to see if it was pliale, solid, whatever, and I could see there was liquid inside of it.

Can't wait to see how the doc handles this one!!!

Alan's feet are fascinating. He has no feeling in his toes but the PN affects the area between the toes and the pins and needles only bother him when he lies flat on his back or sitting straight up in a chair.

We are also awaiting word from the back guy who presently has his MRI films.

I'll never forget one of the times Alan went to see Dr. Passick (at Coney Island Hospital). He was a darling. He was doing something to Alan's toenails and he just looked up and said "You don't feel anything????? really????"

Alan said "nope, you can do whatever you want". The guy just shook his head. He had never seen a guy with PN before (at least that severe anyway).

He said "If I were doing this to anybody else, I'd have to give them lidocaine".

That's PN for ya!!!!


I'll update when we come home later.

mel

New User of Lyrica and NeuroTalk Hello to Everyone
 

Hi, Iam a new member to group here. Seeking people taking Lyrica. I have read some pretty cruel sideeffects from this drug. I have never had any sideeffects from any medications I have taken in my life. I live in chronic pain and have taking Tramadol for many years now. However, the pain has become worse and I was off to the Doc. He gave Lyrica. 2 x day 75 mg. to start. First day!!!!!!!!! Immediate relief !!!!!!!!!!! Feel a bit weird, but can focus better, type better and faster more acurate!!!!! Wonder drug for me!!!!!
Thanks for listening,
Indybizgal HQUOTE=Alkymst;73854]A ? re: s/e's to the long time Lyrica patients. I've been on 100mg twice daily for ~6 months. During that time I've noticed the pitting edema in my legs is now constant and has moved up my calf sufficiently that my legs no longer have real muscle definition. I had pitting edema before the PN but it was localized to the ankles and lower legs and always resolved during the night. I know s/e's of Lyrica can include edema and weight gain - just wondering if other Lyrica users knew of similar experiences.


thanks
Alkymst[/QUOTE]

My NP told me when she put me on Mirapex that weight gain is a common side effect with these kinds of drugs. She said if I began to gain weight she was going to take me off of it. I already have weight issues left over from SSRI treatment that I'm battling now. :(

Has anyone suffered from blurred vision after taking Lyrica?

I recently tried a second attempt at Lyrica and after only 2 X 50mg capsules taken 6 hours apart I woke up the following morning with quite severe blurred vision in my right eye and a small amount in the left one.

The official Lyrica website lists blurred vision as the second most likely side effect after dizziness with weight gain as the third. It also says contact the doctor straight away. When I told my GP he said stop taking it. He seemed to think I might permanently damage my eyesight.

I am just interested in any similar experiences.

Thanks
Tony

No Tony, no blurred vision in the 3 years I've been taking it @ 600mgs/day.