Lyrica/Cymbalta

[Jax87]

Hi,
I just wanted to post that I seem to be managing pretty well with the combo of cymbalta and lyrica. I am on 90mg daily of cymbalta and 300mg of lyrica. I still have some burning feeling and I am standing up at work, but it has helped a lot. I am even comfortably sitting at time on a cushion for about 30 minutes or so. I have reduced my stress a lot since getting out of a bad relationship and law school, but I think the meds have definitely helped too. Just FYI.

The lyrica does make me a little drowsy, and the cymbalta has caused me to lose some weight. However, this is the first medication combo that has actually made a difference in pain, so I will keep going with it while continuing to work on my other treatment options.'

Hugs, Jackie

[Butterfly]

Hi Jax,
That is great that you found a combo that worked for you. I was started on Cymbalta last month but it made my heart race, so had to stop it after a week. I dropped 10 pounds during the week I was on it, so I understand what you mean about weight loss! I have been on Lyrica for almost 4 weeks now and am up to 150mg/day. It is making me really tired, so good to know I'm not the only one. I have gotten a small bit of relief so hopefully will get more relief if I can tolerate dosage increase.

[Violet M]

Jackie, a lot of people report weight gain with lyrica so maybe with your combination of lyrica and cymbalta you will be able to keep your weight somewhat steady. Glad to hear these are helping you.

Violet

[DoubleEdgedSword]

I've been on Lyrica now for about 8 months. I'm on 75mg 2x day, and it does make me drowsy, forgetful and I've gained considerable weight. My side effects from this medication are many. It was helping a lot with my pain cycles, but lately I've had a lot of stress and breakthrough pain, and the Lyrica hasn't touched it.

Because of some traumatic events that have happened in my life, I've become very depressed. I went to see my doc on Friday and he prescribed Cymbalta for me. I'll start on 30mg/day for one week, then go to 30mg 2x day after that. He wants to see me again in a couple of weeks to see how I'm managing on both.

I just took the first one at midnight, slept about 5.5 hrs, and I woke up to a headache, some queasiness and gut rumblings, and feeling a bit shaky. I know it's early days yet and I'll be patient with it, but be aware that there are moderate drug interactions with this combination.

Both can/do supress the central nervous system, both can add to the drowsiness factor also.

Because the Lyrica stopped working as effectively for me I'd like to try to eliminate it eventually and stick with one medication if I find it works for me with minimal side effects. I also can't afford to be on both meds for very long, so I'm hoping one will be the answer. My doc had at first talked about increasing the Lyrica as I'm on a fairly low dose, but when I told him about the depression (which Lyrica can also contribute to), he wants me to overlap the meds, and I can taper off the Lyrica if the Cymbalta is working better for me.

[DoubleEdgedSword]

I went to see my doc last Friday. He noticed right away that I was in a better frame of mind. I'm going to taper off the Lyrica (hopefully) by going down to 50mg twice a day for two weeks. I haven't started that just yet, because I want to finish up my 75mg capsules and have another 1 1/2 days left of them. If I can manage the pain, I'll stay on 50mg 2x day for the rest of a month, then go down to 25mg 2x day after that, I guess. If my pain proves to be uncomfortable at 50mg, I'm supposed to go back up to 75mg..

He also juggled my Cymbalta so that I'm taking both pills (60mg total) once per day. I have a new prescription for the 60mg dosage, so when I'm done my 30mg pills, I'll start on the new ones.

I've noticed several new side effects with the Cymbalta tho. My nausea disappeared, but the gut sounds are strong.. It makes me sweat profusely, so I've had to buy clinical strength antiperspirant.. I do get muscle tremors, mostly jaw-clenching, but sometimes behind my arm where the top of my bra sits.. Sometimes I'm a bit shaky in my hands.. I still get the racing heart, but the doc isn't too concerned about that because I've had a normal EKG last Fall.. The worst one for me (being that I have constant arousal) is that I can't orgasm regularly. I've had only one in the last (almost) three weeks.. My doc said this is to be expected with most anti-depressants, but it really seems unfair to have constant arousal but no relief.. Despite superhuman efforts by my hubby, we haven't figured this one out just yet.

I really wish it would be an appetite supressant for me and I could lose some of the weight I've gained on Lyrica.. Perhaps I will someday.. It's early days yet..

[aman83]

Hi,

I have started Lyrica(150 mg daily) about 3 weeks ago. My doctor increased the dosage to 300mg/day which I have been taking since past couple of days. When I had started Lyrica, I had some side effects like blurred vision and some drowsiness. Blurred vision went off after few days, but sometimes I do feel some blurriness in the eyes which is not so much bothering me.

I see in many of the posts that Lyrica is prescribed with some other medicines like Cymbalta etc..Since I have been taking only Lyrica without combining it with other medicines, does this mean it has less effectiveness?

Also, does the pain improves immediately with Lyrica or it takes some time to see the effects? I am asking this as I haven't seen much improvement in my pain which I now strongly believe is caused due to damaged nerve.

My Condition - I had stapled stapled haemorrhoidectomy due to which I had some retained staples. The staples were removed and during the same time I started having pain in the perineum area, rectal...Still I have the pain and I have seem almost 7 colon-rectal surgeons each one giving their own opinion. My current surgeon has prescribed Lyrica and I really hope to get some improvement as I don't want to fly and get the nerve blocks etc..

Appreciate any useful suggestion!

Regards,

Aman

[Violet M]

Aman, I have heard that a cocktail of drugs such as Lyrica and cymbalta is more effective than 1 drug by itself but you won't really know until you try it.

Violet