Info please on Lyrica

[eyeamdry]

I'm having a hard time getting Lyrica and the PA thinks I should know if it works right away.  I never know if something is working until I take it for some time.

Can you tell me how fast you knew Lyrica worked for you (if it did)?  A few days, or longer like a few weeks?  They are trying to have me "test" this medicine with random samples and I'm not into making up my mind quickly as to whether a med is helping quickly.

Lucy

[Pooh]

Lucy,
I have been trying all afternoon to get in touch with my daughter.  She has been on Lyrica for about 6 months and loves it.  She said "Mom, I am finally feeling better, after all these years with this pain."  She has fibro and muscle weakness.  I think the doctor's called it Polymyolitis or something similiar. 

If I get to talk to her, I will ask her how long before she felt the effects of the Lyrica and let you know. (She just called me and I ask her about it.  She said it was about a week or week and half before it kicked it for her. )

Hugs, Pooh

[Cheryl]

Lucy,
   I tried Lyrica once.  As I recall, you begin with a small dose and increase it gradually to the appropriate maintenance dosage.   I'm not sure how your PA expects you to know right away if it is helping, if you are starting at a small dose.   I hope it does helps you!  (It made me dizzy, so I never made it to the full dosage   )
Cheryl

[Patze]

Hi Lucy,

I too am on Lyrica (a small dosage) and it does help with the pain somewhat.  With me, it took 2-3 weeks to feel the full effect.  The cost is ridiculous, but what are you going to do?

Take care -

Patze

[LenV]

Lucy,
I take 75 mg in the morning, 150 mg at lunch and 150 mg at bedtime.  I've been on this dosage for about a year now.  We had to start at 50-50-50 and then went to 75-75-75, then to 75-100-100 and now the dose of 75-150-150.  This took months.  Now I need another increase.  I understand that a dosage of 300 mg is the theraputic dose.  I'm just hoping my eyes can take it.  I'm really having a rough time with my eyes right now.  I would say that I first started noticing a difference in the pain about 6 months into it.  Really it was the current dose that helped the pain.  I'm now dealing with additional sacrum breaks and the nerve pain has gone out of sight so I guess we will find a way of increasing it.  I've had to take pain medicine 4 times a day.  I was doing ok until I had to increase the pain med. 

I'm just too old for all this stuff.  Tired of it.  I hope you find your theraputic dose soon.

Billye

[eyeamdry]

Thanks Billye, Patze, Cheryl and Pooh.  I am picking up "samples" tomorrow at my GP's office which is enough for about 3 weeks.  I am sure they are PO'd at me for "causing this trouble" when my rheumy is the one who started the process.  I told the nurse today on the phone that "i with I'd never heard of Lyrica."  Well, she agreed.

They just don't get it that it might involve a little work on their part to get me authorized.  I called the pharmacy and they have records of me taking Neurontin and Tegretol in 05 and 03.  I'm getting those records and that should satisfy the insurance company and the dr's office won't have to look through my records, heaven forbid.  I know from reading about this that it's not likely to know "right now" if it helps or not.  I do plan on taking the samples and then getting an RX for it so I can give it a real try.
(God, please help me from slapping someone in my drs office and I'm not choosy so keep me from all of them.)

[salsen]

I tried Lyrica and it did nothing for me.  It was like a placebo for me although I have talked to many who love the medication and have had really good results using it.  My doctor did keep me on it for two full months before wienning me off of it.  He wanted to give it a good try, hoping it would kick in.  All together I was on it for three months.  That should be enough time for your body to respond.

[itssue]

Lucy,

I've been on Lyrica for over 2 years.  I started at 50mg, then 75 and now I take 100mg twice a day.  At this level I definitely can tell it helps with the fibro pain.  I would not want to be without it.   I wish you luck with it, I know that there are a lot of people who just can't take it for various reasons.

Sue