Lyrica
 

Hi guys,
I just started Lyrica (50 mg 3X per day) and I had two quick questions

1. It says to not drive until you know how lyrica effects you --- I am wondering how long should I give it before I can assume any side effects that would happen have happened? Or in other words people who have taken Lyrica if you had side effects how quickly did they appear? (I just want to make sure I am safe!)

- When I started Cymbalta (stopped since) my first side effects didn't hit until over 12 hours after my first dose and then they were brutal.

2. How long does it take Lyrica to become effective?

Thanks!

It's similar to gabapentin from what I hear so would take a week or so to begin to kick in for most folk.

Thanks icelander! Anyone else have experience with this drug? I have been kind of dizzy all day but nothing too severe I just want to make sure that because the drug may take like a week to become effective that the side effects don't come on a later day (I want to be prepared)

I used it for a few years at varying doses. It was very helpful at times. I was told that once we found a good dose that it should be all set.

Well, it either was losing effectiveness or I was experiencing progression. I decided to see how it went without. In the process of titrating off I began to recognize what a cognitive deficit the drug was putting me at. The titrating up must have acted as a mask, well that and the relief. Don't let me mistake that- it did provide some relief from the zapping and buzzing.

But it comes down to the quid pro quo. I don't like the trade off, especially after I realized how much of a mushy brain it was. I did require it for awhile, especially when I was essentially first dealing with this pn rising up forcefully the first time.

I will need to try something else again soon, something other than Lyrica or topamax, which is what my neuro has me trying now. That seems to do nothing but provide its own layer of pn and a metallic taste to my mouth.

I'd suggest giving it time. Take notes. See how it works for you. It is wise to see how others have done, but it could be a perfect fit for you. I hope it is.

Jon

Lyrica
 

I also just started the Lyrica a little over a week ago and I keep wondering when it is going to start working. So far I don't feel any effects at all - good or bad. In fact, the pain feels a lot worse. I am thinking about stopping it. Had a couple of really bad sleepless nights from the pain. I also tried the Cymbalta before this and had a really bad reaction to it, but the Lyrica does not seem to be doing anything.

Tried Lyrica several years ago. Starting dosage did nothing. When the dosage was doubled, I became a zombie. I couldn't drive or do much of anything. Didn't help pain any better than gabapentin.

For me, #1 is of utmost importance. i was hit by a car while I was on Lyrica for two weeks. It was a pretty low dose. I thought i was OK on it but once I got off of it I realized how different I was. I believe my reaction time was slowed so i was not able to react as quickly in a high traffic stress situation. I immediately got off of Lyrica. Lyrica is essentially a more potent, better absorbed version of Gabapentin. For me, Lyrica felt a lot different as compared to Gabapentin. I really felt like a completely different, numb person on it. I can't say if it really helped with my nerve symptoms because i was not on long enough and was obeying a very strict diet that minimizes nerve pain. I certainly was able to sleep at night that's for sure. I had a hard time waking as well.

Cymbalta made me IMMEDIATELY suicidal.

I believe I am very sensitive to medications, I am very aware of my physiological state. Some people actually are able to just roll with a drug better. It depends who you are really.

What diet did you use to minimize your nerve pain?

Essentially Atkins/Low Carb/Ketogenic. Blood sugar control helps a lot in my experience.

I have been on Atkins before and loved it.