Wellness

[bluejeansluvr]

I know someone who takes it for fibromyalgia but I don't know anyone that takes it for arthritis. If you take it for this, has it helped with the pain and in particular the stiffness? I am on medication for the joint swelling and inflammation but the nurse practitioner suggested it and I said I would think about it. I'm hesitant but the person I know on it has not had problems with it at her dosage. TIA for any comments and suggestions.

[Bird mama]

I know someone who takes it and she happens to have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.

[bluejeansluvr]

Thanks Bird. I'm trying to decide if I want to take it. I have read very positive things and also some negative things.

[TootyJane]

Yes, I took Lyrica for a couple of years. I have DDD due to arthritis in my neck and back. I got very sick 3 years ago and ended up cutting out all medications which I thought were not necessary -- Lyrica was one of them. I didn't notice any difference after I stopped taking it. The only medication other than pain medication that has worked for me is Piroxicam (generic name is Feldene). However, it is extremely hard on your stomach and can cause ulcers. HTH

[151949]

Lyrica is a medication for NERVE pain so i don't understand why it would be taken for arthritis unless you had degeneration to the point that it was compressing a nerve. Where is your arthritis ? i doubt it waould be effective for pain in joints like hands and knees and hips. i really don't get why she suggested it for arthritis.

[PhatCat]

DH takes this for neuropathy. Although it works better than others, it still is not taking away most of the pain. He did gain almost 20 lbs taking the Lyrica.

[Windycity]

I've taken Lyrica for years for fibromyalgia. I also have osteoarthritis and take additional drugs for that. The pain that I struggle with, primarily in my knees, is horrible and meds do not seem to help at all.

My insurance recently stopped paying for Arthrotec which I had taken for years. The generic substitution did nothing. My rheumatologist is now trying other things - non of which have helped except Ultram before bed.

However, when my fibro goes into a flare, I can only hope and pray that the Lyrica helps somewhat. That pain is so debilitating that I can't ascertain where it ends and the arthritis begins.

My heart goes out to each of you that struggle with these things too.

[RedHeadedWench]

On 1/19/2014 FATCATinCT said:

DH takes this for neuropathy. Although it works better than others, it still is not taking away most of the pain. He did gain almost 20 lbs taking the Lyrica.

Yes, it is for Neuropathy...and it does put weight on you.

I cannot take it any more because, I was one of those people they talk about in the "warnings". You know when they speed through those things like.."this medication may cause constipation, heart problems, allergic reactions, yadda yadda yadda.."

I had a bad allergic reaction that I had to go to the ER.

[violann]

I'd try it but the weight gain part is the deal breaker for me. I find that my very very low inflammatory diet and weight loss has helped some, but there are definitely days when I really wish I could take the edge off the constant pain.

[57babe]

Here's some of my thoughts about the medication; Lyrica:

Lyrica is an anti-convulsant, anti-seizure (anti-epileptic) drug. It is a psychotropic drug which is now being marketed as a pain medication.

Personally, I disagree with the marketing & prescribing of potent, psychotropic drugs for chronic pain. That's my personal opinion. Seems to me to be adding insult to injury. But saying that, I completely understand that relief has to be found for the pain of fibromyalgia. I don't judge anyone who decides they need medications to cope with this painful disorder.

One of the side effects of anti-seizure drugs (like Lyrica & Neurontin) is that they can actually CAUSE seizures in people who have never had seizures. These drugs can also CAUSE neuropathy in people who have never had neuropathy.

Why is Lyrica & Neurontin are marketed to people with neuropathy and chronic pain -- when these drugs actually can cause neuropathy & chronic pain? Because anyone with the prior medical history of neuropathy and/or chronic pain cannot take legal action against the manufacturer of the drug for damages --- if/when the neuropathy & chronic pain worsens after taking Lyrica and/or Neurontin long-term. This is an important fact to consider.

And what happens when fibromyalgia patients take Lyrica and/or Neurontin for joint pain and then suddenly find themselves suffering from neuropathy as well? This new condition (caused by the drug) will just be chalked up to "the progression of fibromyalgia" and the real cause of the neuropathy -- the drug -- will be conveniently covered up.

Pfizer illegally marketed Neurontin as a pain drug by hiring doctors to speak all over the country about the effectiveness of Neurontin for pain. In just under one year, Neurontin, once a under-performing, seldom prescribed epilepsy drug -- became the number one prescribed drug for pain. Google, FDA sues Pfizer illegally marketing Neurontin -- to read the entire story.

Other severe side effects of Lyrica & Neurontin are short term memory loss, tooth loss (from dry mouth), skin problems, irreversible blurred vision(lawsuits filed) and tardive dyskinesia (which is uncontrolled, involuntary jerking movements from Central Nervous System damage).

The side effect list comes from the FDA website -- www.fda.gov and a full list of side effects can be accessed there. The drug fact guides that are included with the medication are "dumbed down"(in my opinion) to intentionally minimize the side effects and the side effect list is limited and inaccurate -- IMO.

Another thing to consider is that anti-seizure drugs cause withdrawal syndrome -- they can be very difficult to come off of.

You can go on www.askapatient.com and put the name of the drug in the search and read what others have experienced with this drug.

One theory that is being discussed about the nature and cause of fibromyalgia is that this condition is caused by micro-toxins in the body, either from environmental contamination, disease, vaccinations or medications. Now, if there is any truth to this theory, then taking medications for fibromyalgia is just adding more fuel to the fire, so to speak.

Just for the record, these comments are my personal opinion formed from my own research and combined with the experience I have garnered through observing friends & relatives who have taken Lyrica & Neurontin and have suffered serious, irreversible side effects from these two drugs.

One person that I know who takes Neurontin cannot get off the drug -- because without it, she suffers seizures -- which she never had before she started taking this drug.

I urge you to do you own research about Lyrica & Neurontin before you decide to take it. Check the FDA website for more information and google the story about Pfizer and Neurontin. Check the askapatient website too. Get as much information as possible about the side effects of these potent, psychiatric drugs.

Talk to your doctor about Lyrica and if you are concerned about the side effects -- make sure that you share your concerns with your doctor.

It's your body. Don't take a drug if you can't live with the side effects.

There has been some research in the area of increased nutrition and supplementing with vitamin & minerals (D3, CoQ10, B vitamins, etc.) that is helping many fibro patients to improve and/or recover from this condition. I hope that the root cause of fibromyalgia will be discovered soon so that a cure can be provided for everyone who suffers with this painful condition.

Take good care.