Pfizer gives $1 million to B.C. researchers (more $ to come)
 

Hello..

This is my provence BC :) in Canada, and I think this is huge.. they are already testing Lyrica with CRPS in clinical trials elsewhere (and gabipentin). This is the same company that made the fibromyalgia commercials putting fibro on the map so to speak and I am thinking RSD/CRPS is next.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...7-519a84af04e5

"The money will be administered by the review panel of the CDRD and Pfizer and will be aimed at helping researchers overcome the costly gap between discovery and commercialization, a gap often dubbed the "valley of death" because it can be so difficult to overcome."

:grouphug:

Here's more
 

A year ago, I tried to get off of Lyrica and had the same experience--three days off it, and all the pain came back. But this year I was able to go for three weeks before the pain came back. So there is hope! How many years till I'm off it completely? Well, we'll hope there are new developments prior to that :)

... umm ok here goes ...
 

It is very hard to write this post

I find the lyrica helps alot but I have also found that I have had what I can call disturbing thoughts.. it's weird its not good.. Its hard to explain not exactly suicidal but thoughts of death.. my death.. and its just since I started the lyrica I think.. I hadn't put the two together till I came across the FDA alert on it.

So now it's another reason for me not to up it.. and I should probibly get off lyrica but I dont want to.. it works very well for me.. I don't know what to do but if my thought process and depression get any worse I will have to wean off it :( I probly should anyway

Hi Sandra.

It may have been hard to write that post, but I'm glad you did. This isn't an either-or situation; Lyrica is only the latest of a line of GABA drugs, and one of the others may have side-effects you can live with.

Use your tremendous researching skills to read up on side-effects of all of them, then pick the one that looks most promising to you. I started with gabapentin (Neurontin), but had severe visual and cognitive consequences so I switched to lamotrigine (Lamictal) and used it for three years without any noticable side-effects.

Lyrica was designed to mitigate known side-effects of previous GABAs, and until now it looked like a good option, but RSD is already called the "suicide disease" by many, amd doesn't need a side-effect like this.

I hope everyone taking Lyrica will think about your thinking. If you even suspect that your thoughts have veered in this direction, you should consider trying something else.

The problem isn't just fear that someone will act on these thoughts: The thoughts alone are harmful, they aggravate depression, and I can't imagine anyone living with RSD who isn't already depressed by it...Vic

A lot of wisdom in Viccs response. State of mind also affects RSD, so the last thing you need is a drug that affects it for the worse. Yes, Lyrica can help some people's RSD pain, but if it creates death related thoughts and increases any sad feelings you already have because of having to endure RSD, it truly is wise to begin the search for something else that might help. Your life is worth so much more. You deserve to be as happy as possible in the face of something as miserable as RSD, for the sake of your own holistic well being as well as for your physical well being. We are integrated human beings, and we need all aspects of our persons--body, mind, spirit--to be in as good a place as possible. I guess what I am saying is, I want your best, and Lyrica is not doing a good enough job. I agree with Vicc.

This might sound petty to some but I also
 

think that the weight gain is an issue. Most everyone seems to gain a lot of weight on it. If you have high blood pressure, heart problems, stomach problems, diabetes, and other things that weight effects then you need to also research for one that doesn't add on 30 to 50 lbs. in weeks or months.

I know a lot of meds do put weight on people. I have a friend that is going through that now with another one that does and now she is dealing with back issues, sleep apnea and other things.

I went off of it due to gaining 6 or 7 lbs. after a few pills and I feel that is just to fast and too much. I have seen people on here say they gained 30 lbs. You are helping one thing and bringing on others in some case.

I realize a lot of you would rather have the relief from the pain but I would do as Vicc says and research every aspect of each med out there for what you need it for.

Ada

I gained 40 pounds in 6 weeks on Lyrica. I also had the death dreams. They were horrid.

I too have gained a lot of weight since I have been on Lyrica - I gained about half a stone!!
Thanks