Need advice on medication
Need advice on medication
Currently I take Nucynta 100mg, Cymbalta and valium 5mg. I took Nurotin but side affects were too bad. What are some other meds I can take that will help? I teach and sometimes it gets very stressful and the pain gets worse.Thanks for your help! Missy
Re: Need advice on medication
If you've tried neurontin/gabapentin and the side effects were too much, then the next in line would be pregabalin/Lyrica. That gives you a combination of antidepressant and anticonvulsant, which lots of people find gives the best pain relief.
Re: Need advice on medication
HI folks
What are the main side effects of Lyrica?...I tried it in the past for IC pain bladder issues, but can't remember why I didn't stay on it for long..
I react to many med ... they tend to make it harder for me to urinate...doing something to the urethalmuscles.
Just wondered if anyone knew the effects, as I may want to give it another try...I could sue anti-depressatn help in order to cope with the pain and isolation until I find my relief..
Thx
Kath
What are the main side effects of Lyrica?...I tried it in the past for IC pain bladder issues, but can't remember why I didn't stay on it for long..
I react to many med ... they tend to make it harder for me to urinate...doing something to the urethalmuscles.
Just wondered if anyone knew the effects, as I may want to give it another try...I could sue anti-depressatn help in order to cope with the pain and isolation until I find my relief..
Thx
Kath
Re: Need advice on medication
I'm going to be finding out the main side effects of Lyrica myself, pretty soon! I am starting it this evening, I have a long train journey today.
The nurse practitioner whom I saw yesterday for the prescription told me that the usual things are drowsiness and dizziness, and told me to take the dose up slowly to minimise problems with this, and that side effects should subside if I wait it out for a couple of weeks. I am pretty sure that problems with urination are not usually a problem with lyrica.
You're already taking an anti-depressant, aren't you - that's the cymbalta. I do hope that things level out for you soon, I know what you mean about stress levels and increased pain.
The nurse practitioner whom I saw yesterday for the prescription told me that the usual things are drowsiness and dizziness, and told me to take the dose up slowly to minimise problems with this, and that side effects should subside if I wait it out for a couple of weeks. I am pretty sure that problems with urination are not usually a problem with lyrica.
You're already taking an anti-depressant, aren't you - that's the cymbalta. I do hope that things level out for you soon, I know what you mean about stress levels and increased pain.
Re: Need advice on medication
Calluna,
Good luck with your Lyrica! Yes, do take it nice and slow. When I was increasing my gabapentin I only increased one step every two weeks, and that enabled me to tolerate the side effects. Otherwise I don't think I could have.
Good luck with your Lyrica! Yes, do take it nice and slow. When I was increasing my gabapentin I only increased one step every two weeks, and that enabled me to tolerate the side effects. Otherwise I don't think I could have.
Athlete until pain started in 2001. Diagnosed with PN in Nov. 2010. Probable cause: 3 difficult labors, 5 pelvic surgeries for endometriosis, and undiagnosed hip injuries. 60% better after 3 rounds of shockwave therapy in Cornwall, Ontario (Dec - Feb/12). 99% better after bilateral hip scopes for FAI and labral tears (April and July/12). Pelvic pain life coach Lorraine Faendrich helped me overcome the mind/body connection to chronic pain: http://www.radiantlifedesign.com
Re: Need advice on medication
I got a bit overconfident, I am afraid, Lernica! The pain clinic website says to start at 100mg and take it up by 50mg each week - the nurse practitioner had told me to start at 25mg and take it up by 25mg each week.
So I started at 25mg. This did nothing at all, I stayed with that for a couple of days. Then I took it up to 50 mg, still absolutely no effect, nothing, zero. So after a couple of days I thought, I'll go up to 100mg as the pain clinic says! Bad idea, I literally couldn't stay awake. I tried to stay with it and see if it wore off, but it was difficult as I was not at home and needed to be awake and functioning. So I took it back to 50mg, came home, and I'm going to take it up to 75 tomorrow.
Anyway - for me, the side effects from lyrica (when I get them) seem to be tiredness and needing to go to sleep, also a slight feeling of being a bit spaced.
So I started at 25mg. This did nothing at all, I stayed with that for a couple of days. Then I took it up to 50 mg, still absolutely no effect, nothing, zero. So after a couple of days I thought, I'll go up to 100mg as the pain clinic says! Bad idea, I literally couldn't stay awake. I tried to stay with it and see if it wore off, but it was difficult as I was not at home and needed to be awake and functioning. So I took it back to 50mg, came home, and I'm going to take it up to 75 tomorrow.
Anyway - for me, the side effects from lyrica (when I get them) seem to be tiredness and needing to go to sleep, also a slight feeling of being a bit spaced.
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helenlegs 11
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- Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:39 am
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Re: Need advice on medication
Is it doing anything for the pain at all Calluna? Good luck with it.
take care,
Helen
take care,
Helen
Fall 2008. Misdiagnosed with lumber spine problem. MRN June 2010 indicated pudendal entrapment at Alcocks canal. Diagnosed with complex variant piriformis syndrome with sciatic, pudendal and gluteal entrapment's by Dr Filler 2010.Guided piriformis botox injection 2011 Bristol. 2013, Nerve conduction test positive; new spinal MRI scan negative, so diagnosed for the 4th time with pelvic nerve entrapment, now recognised as Sciatic, pudendal, PFCN and cluneal nerves at piriformis level.
Re: Need advice on medication
Hi Everyone
Just thought I'd put in my two-peneth!
I'm on Lyrica and have been for the past 18month+. I started on 75mg does twice a day. but moved up to 150mg twice a day after two weeks. This seems to level out my pain most of the time, however, recently I've had some breakthrough pain.
As for the side effects. I would say persevere with the increased dose, it takes some time but much of the the side effects do subside when you take it over a long period.
Cheers
Peaches
PS I also take Venlafaxine (Effexor) too.
Just thought I'd put in my two-peneth!
I'm on Lyrica and have been for the past 18month+. I started on 75mg does twice a day. but moved up to 150mg twice a day after two weeks. This seems to level out my pain most of the time, however, recently I've had some breakthrough pain.
As for the side effects. I would say persevere with the increased dose, it takes some time but much of the the side effects do subside when you take it over a long period.
Cheers
Peaches
PS I also take Venlafaxine (Effexor) too.
PN diagnosed in 2009 by Dr Greenslade, Bristol
Symptoms for many years and numerous diagnostic tests
Currently controlled by meds - Venlafaxine and Lyrica
Symptoms for many years and numerous diagnostic tests
Currently controlled by meds - Venlafaxine and Lyrica
Re: Need advice on medication
Was told by the director of Johns Hopkins Hospital Pain Center that recent data shows Cymbalta to be better than Lyrica for nerve pain, but everyone is different in their response.
RR
RR
Cyclist till perineal pain onset R side (Apr'08). Dx with PN (Aug'09). Lyrica gave 30% pain reduction. Potter MRI (Oct'10) validated at surgery with Dr Hibner (Nov'10) - found nerve attached to scarred STL. Now sitting 10 hrs/day vs 1 hr/day pre-op. Surgery video = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FDwana6SQU
Deep neuropathic burning pain flares have been gone since surgery...Grateful to Dr Hibner.
Deep neuropathic burning pain flares have been gone since surgery...Grateful to Dr Hibner.
Re: Need advice on medication
Cymbalta, that's interesting. Well, more options to try if the surgery doesn't work!
Going ok on 75mg so far, I put it up last night in the end, I think I just need to take it slowly. With regard to pain relief, I can see it is there ahead of me! - when I was on 100mg I was off the tramadol at that point and the pain was less than I would have expected. I am back on tramadol again because I started getting hyperarousal again, the tramadol really does seem to suppress it for me. Will have to see if the lyrica has the same effect once I get the dose up.
Peaches, how you managed to stay conscious with a starting dose of 75mg twice a day is totally beyond me! I hope that your breakthrough pain goes away soon.
Going ok on 75mg so far, I put it up last night in the end, I think I just need to take it slowly. With regard to pain relief, I can see it is there ahead of me! - when I was on 100mg I was off the tramadol at that point and the pain was less than I would have expected. I am back on tramadol again because I started getting hyperarousal again, the tramadol really does seem to suppress it for me. Will have to see if the lyrica has the same effect once I get the dose up.
Peaches, how you managed to stay conscious with a starting dose of 75mg twice a day is totally beyond me! I hope that your breakthrough pain goes away soon.