Fibromyalgia And Lyrica

I was recently put on Lyrica for severe Fibromyalgia pain. It is a nice change from the narcotic pain medications I have been taking but the pain is still intense. Have any other FMS patients seen results from Lyrica?

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I have FMS as well as back pain and nerve pain in my ribcage. My dr seems to think that if we get the dosage hi enough that it will help the Fibro. So far I have no relief for my Fibro symptoms yet and I am on 400mg. Karel

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Lyrica is actually not approved for FMS, it is currently approved to treat Diabetic Neuropathy, it will only work for certain types of nerve pain. It is not a narcotic, nor an analgesic, so it will not work like they do for providing pain relief.

To see any results, it also usuall takes at least a month with these types of meds.

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I am fully aware that LYRICA is not approved for FMS. All I wanted to say is that I have been on it successfully for intercostal neuritis. I also have FMS. Ceryain Drugs are approved for one thing all the time and then used for other things. Thanks for your reply, Karel

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My reply was actually more directed at the original poster, who said they still have intense pain, even though they have started using it. I wanted them to know why they were not seeing results yet.

I am glad that you have had good luck with it, it is great that you have found a relief for your pain. These drugs never worked for me at all, though I was desperate and willingly tried several of them, but nothing, wish I had as good results as you did Karel, I would gladly give up narcotics if I had another solution.

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i also have fibromyalgia and have quite of bit of neuropathic-type pain, and i was on Neurontin for quite awhile. Neurontin is very similar to Lyrica, but Lyrica is supposed to be better for fibromyalgia. While on Neurontin, i was doing pretty well, but i had to discontinue it when i began having swelling in my legs, and Neurontin can sometimes cause this. I was then switched to Lyrica, and my fibromyalgia symptoms began to get much worse. I was on it for about a year and i have just switched back over to Neurontin. i think i may be very slowly starting to improve. So, Lyrica did not work for me, but my doctor said that many of his patients have been improving on it.

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I was recently prescribed Lyrica (free trial) by a most incompetent physician who took only 5 minutes with me after waiting to see him twice for 2 hours. I do have fibromyalgia and nerve pain. Now, my left arm and hand are going numb each night. I am just deathly afraid of taking Lyrica because of the research I have done on the side effects. Is there anything out there that really works without the debilitating side effects?

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Shirley you might want to talk to a doctor about trying Neurontin, it has very, very few side effects and many people with nerve pain have very good luck with it alleviating their pain.

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What Shirley said was interesting because i have now developed intermittent numbness in my hands and feet, but i believe it started after i stopped taking Lyrica and restarted the Neurontin. i don't think it's a side of effect of Neurontin, but perhaps just a progression of the disease???

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My doctor just put me on Lyrica and Cymbalta for fibro and nerve pain from 3 back surgeries and insomnia, anxiety. The pain has demenished already, compared to other treatments but the switch has been difficult. Mentally, I am not as quick to respond and I am hoping this will go away in a week or two. This has been after 2 weeks of taking this combination. I feel better than I have in six years.

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Susan, are you having any side effects from the Cymbalta? My doctor and I have discussed using it, but he was having some patients complain of jerking limbs, which I already have. I'm just afraid it will get worse. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone did have this side effect from Cymbalta and if it goes away after awhile. I have heard such good things about Cymbalta for fibromyalgia.

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To Jennifer: I had swelling of the legs on Neurontin in addition to an increase in my Blood pressure so I could never stay on the Neurontin. I have swelling in my Rt hand once in a while and I attribute it to the Lyrica. What bothers me the most os my dimished recall when I increase the dosage of the Lyrica. I have weight gain as well. Karel

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Karel, I also had swelling in the legs so I had stopped the Neurontin for about a year and it didn't help. I just felt worse. I finally found a diuretic that reduced the swelling and I am back on Neurontin. I had never heard that about Lyrica, that it affects the memory. Mine is terrible, but I assume because I'm on Methadone. Maybe now that I'm off the Lyrica, it will get a little better. Thanks.

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Jennifer---I am not having any physical problems with cymbalta, and the pain in my back, legs and arms is much better. On my first day or two of taking the combo of Lyrica/Cymbalta I had problems with balance and driving skills (my reaction times are slow--much like driving drunk). However, those are getting better as I am gettin used to taking the medication. My husband says I talk like I am strung out on drugs and I need to talk faster (especially at night)....but I think that is just his own impatient with my chronic illness. I tell him to get over it as I am on drugs and he just has to be more patient. Two weeks after taking Lyrica/cymbalta and I cleaned house--vaccuumed, did laundry, made the bed, made dinner and cleaned the kitchen....I can usually do one of these tasks and my energy is gone and I am in too much pain to do much else the rest of the day. At this time the side effects I am experiencing are worth it.

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I was originally on Nuerontin, for 4 years...then found out about weight gain and other side affects. I asked to be put on other medications and I was put on Topomax. My dosage of Topomax was 25mgx2 (with allowance to take more if necessary). Due to the Stup-a-max affect I didnt want to take a lot. My sister and father both take Topamax and I have seen the problems they had with mental acuity. I am not as bright as them, so I didnt want to have Topamax affect what brain function I do have. I still found a lot of memory loss and difficulty in learning new processes. My new doctor is taking me off of topamax and trying the Lyrica/cymbalta combo. She also suggested working parttime or not working....would be nice. But I dont see any way to do that without disability. Oh well.

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I have been on Lyrica/Cymbalta combo for about a year. I recently stopped the Cymbalta myself. (too expensive) but I am starting to have more pain. I am wondering if it is related to that. The Lyrica was a wonder drug for my fibro. I still have flare-ups, but have yet to be on any narcotics. I find that I am having more pain lately, i'm trying to attribute it to the bad weather, but have never related the two before. Does anyone else have more pain with rainy/yucky weather?? Thanks

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Oh Yeah! Before its going to rain or snow my pain is definately worse I think it has to do with the change in barometric pressure. Its strange how on Long Island where I live, (30 to 40 minutes from the shore) the weather changes affect me but when I am on an Island, ie: Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, I feel good on the water immediately and when it rains it doesn't affect me there. C'mon somone who knows about weather changes, please explain the differences. Sincerly, Karel

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I asked my doctor about this once so she explained why and how it happens, and showed me studies as well as referring to me some sites that explain this type of thing.

It actually has to do with your blood pressure in relation to the barometric pressue of the weather. Higher pressure, or sudden changes in temp, cause your blood pressure to increase, in turn this moves pain killing chemicals, such as Dopamine, through your body much faster than the normal rate on a regular day that has stayed at the same temp and pressure for awhile, so it is gone too fast, leaving your pain to sore.

The increased pressure in your blood vessels also means they swell swightly, not to a dangerous point, but enough to put pressure on nerve endings and when you have an area of your body that is already aggravated and those nerves are zinging, it just makes it even worse.

Some people suffer the same effect at night when they try to lay down and go to sleep, because lying down and the metabolic changes for sleep also cause changes in your blood pressure.

In tropical areas, such as Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and others, the pressure systems during their ordinary weather patterns, don't fluctuate as much as in areas that have more severe seasonal changes, so your pain is eased their, because your blood pressure isn't as effect and forced to rise as much or as often.

Remember in the old days, when Docs used to tell people to move to a warm, dry climate for their health? Well that was an early response to this same type of activity, research hadn't explained the phenomenon yet, but they knew people in warm, dry areas, and areas where the weather didn't fluctuate as severely between temps, didn't suffer as bad as those in areas where the climate undergoes significant changes.

When I was younger, I first notice a phenomenon of change whenever I had toothaches, sudden changes in the weather would make it throb and ache worse, and whenever I tried to lay down and sleep at night, it did the same thing.

So when I got older and my spinal condition deteriorated, I began to notice the same type of effect and got curious about it.

So, I hope that explains it some for you.

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Thanks Verwon, it makes perfect sense. Karel

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Very welcome. Yes, it really does make sense if you think about it. My husband and I were just talking about it yesterday, the weather here in PA has been unable to make up its mind, and we have both been feeling it.

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ecided to do some research and here is a fantastic article, explaining the theory of changing barometric presssure and increased pain for all interested. Enjoy,Karel M

For Chronic Pain Sufferers, Change, Not Weather, May Hurt
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By JANE E. BRODY
Published: June 7, 1995
BEFORE you decide to take your arthritis to Arizona, consider these surprising new findings about the influence of weather and climate on chronic pain: Patients living in the relatively warm, dry climate of San Diego reported a greater sensitivity to changes in the weather than those who had to cope with the cold and damp conditions of Boston or Worcester, Mass.

A better bet than any of those three cities for chronic pain sufferers seeking relief from the vagaries of weather might be warm and moist Nashville. In a study of the four cities, chronic pain patients living in Nashville reported that they were least likely to be affected by changes in the weather.

The study, by Dr. Robert N. Jamison and colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, involved a questionnaire survey of 558 chronic pain patients in the four cities. The findings were published in the current issue of the journal Pain. In an interview, Dr. Jamison, a clinical psychologist, said they revealed that weather affects pain no matter where people live.

The findings suggest that our bodies adjust to the local climate, and when changes occur in that climate, we react to them with an increase in pain, he said.

Dr. Jamison explained: If you spend two weeks in Florida sipping pina coladas, you may feel a lot less pain than you did shoveling snow at home in Boston. But if you move to Florida and your body gets used to that warm climate, when the temperature drops you may hurt just as much as you did when the weather changed in Boston.

Thus a spell of wet weather in normally dry San Diego might be more disruptive to pain sufferers than the year-round dampness of Nashville, whose residents become accustomed to wet conditions. Such a finding counters the common notion that warm, dry climates are best for people in pain.

The researchers were also surprised to find that younger patients -- the survey involved people 18 to 85 years old -- reported the greatest sensitivity to weather changes. Patients with arthritis were also highly sensitive.

The researchers conducted the four-city survey to examine more closely the longstanding belief that patients with chronic pain -- arthritis, headache, backache and the like -- are sensitive to weather changes and can often predict those changes as much as a day ahead based on an increase in pain. The researchers sought to determine if weather-induced changes in pain sensitivity varied with climate. They especially looked at whether those who live in cold, damp climates suffer the worst weather-related effects, and what characteristics define patients who are most sensitive to weather changes.

Although the survey showed, as pain patients know all too well, that cold, damp weather is perceived to have the greatest effect on pain, pain is more likely to be affected by a change to cold, damp weather than a steady climate of it. Two-thirds of the patients said weather changes affected their pain, and of those, slightly more than half said their pain was affected even before the weather changed.

The real culprit may be a change in barometric pressure, since patients are most likely to report an increase in pain in advance of weather changes, Dr. Jamison said. The barometric pressure typically falls before the onset of wet weather, and, he suggested, when the outside pressure falls, body tissues -- tendons, ligaments, muscles and bones -- may readjust by expanding to varying degrees and, in doing so, can trigger the sensitized nerves that send out pain signals.

He likened the phenomenon to the old wet-dry barometers made of stretched leather. When the atmosphere is dry, the leather shortens, but when conditions get damp, it lengthens. Moisture also affects how the body changes, Dr. Jamison said. He explained that changes in atmospheric moisture could ignite inflamed joints, as in arthritis, or trigger pain signals in the area of a surgical scar.

The psychologist said he is now planning a study to monitor the physiological changes that occur in response to weather changes. Pain patients who participate will be hooked up to instruments that can assess such responses as tissue swelling when the barometric pressure falls.

Meanwhile, those trying to limit the effects of weather on their aches and pains might be best off staying home in the climate their bodies are used to and using various strategies designed to minimize pain and bestow a greater sense of control over it. Dr. Jamison said those strategies include learning to pace activities, using distraction and relaxation techniques and realizing that pain will fluctuate.

If you wake up in the morning in pain, you know you will have a bad day, so don't try to do as much, learn to say no more often, Dr. Jamison suggested.

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I am diagnosed with fibromyalgia and my neurologist prescribed symgen 30mg. I recently read that the withdrawal symptoms are terrible when you stop. Are there any other meds I can use instead of symgen?

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My friend now has debilitating Fibromyalgia from the neck downwards! She has been prescribed Buprenorphine patches but is still in a lot of chronic pain! Would Metamorphine help her?

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Hi,

I've been on neurontin and was at max dose and didn't help and also made me gain over 40lbs in 2 months. I tried Savella but when I tried to increase the dose in the starter pack, I started getting depressed and paranoid so it was stopped. I was already on Lexapro for depression and Klonopin for anxiety, ptsd. Lyrica was interesting. Lol. When I tried to increase the dose over time, I developed hallucinations. I started seeing bugs fly around me and strands of smoke. So that was stopped too. I have fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, occipital neuralgia, neck, mid and low back issues with sciatica, reynaud's and now been diagnosed with central pain syndrome. If you have fibro with other issues, you may have this. Basically, your entire central nervous system has been completely altered to how your body reacts to pain. I can't do inj's. anymore and the only thing that gave me a decent life was high dose opioids which I can't get anymore. All of this crap comes from serving in desert storm. NONE of this runs in either of my family. It's crazy how drs think they know our lives and don't help. I'm trying to find a Dr who specializes in central pain syndrome but it's still in its infancy, so to speak. These new CDC guidelines are only making people who are responsible suffer or kill themselves. How sad that we have a remedy but won't allow it to be used because others abuse it for fun. I know that if you ask all patients in pain management that they enjoy taking opioids, 99% or more would say never but it's the only thing that can give me a life back.

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I have had Fibromyalgia for 20yrs. During this time, I have fallen into deep depressions. I have now at last found the best combination of meds for my anxiety, but can't get the pain that comes with Fibromyalgia under control. I want my life back or at least some normality. I don't want to be so doped up on pain meds that I can't function and hold down a job. I take Lyrica and Modanifil. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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i have a bladder disease and fibromyalgia and have had both for many years. Lyrica was the mirical drug that saved me. got me clean and off narcotics..and it really does work. i noticed in just a few days.. The longer you take it the better. I have taken it for 7 years now. But It i so expense...i now have to find a new non narcotic drug for pain..i have tried cybalta but it made my hands go numb,,face go numb,,and legs jerk at any given moment.. any one with any suggestions,,please post..do any you old schoolers ,,like me remember elavil,

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I was on methadone for two years after being on percosets for years and it has it's ups and downs...First, start looking for a clinic or doctor now, as a lot of methadone clinics have a long waiting list. when you get on a clinic, be sure to tell them you were on percoset (they will probably start you off on a higher than usual dose because of your tolerance level).
Most will start a person off at about 35 mg.-but they started me at 50 mg. as time went on, I gradually increased my dose to 125. It was wonderful for the pain, but it made me so tired that I was sleeping all the time, which is why I stopped taking it. That was one reason I stopped. The other is because I was sick and tired of having to be up early every morninh to go to the clinic. Your life WILL revovle around your methsdone.
Also, be careful taking other narcotic pain meds while on methadone, as most will cause withdrawal symptoms if taken together.
Last of all-you will have to be carefully weaned off the methadone when you decide to stop, because it is an opiate and is addictive.

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cas2cam - my next pain med (when the Percocet stops working) will be methadone. Any problems with it that I should be aware of? My pain has been increasing despite increasing my Lyrica to 450 mg, Fibro sucks!

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Lyrica will probably give you a lot of relief. I was on narcotic painkillers since age 12 and stopped using them about 2 yrs ago. I very occasionally will take something narcotic for extra rellief. The only thing that ever gave me complete relief-and I coudn't abuse it is methadone. I was on meth clinic for 3 years and to be free of 'popping pills' all the time and eing pain free was the best thing ever happened to me. Only problem was I was on 125 mg. and, like the neurontin, I slert all the time. But...I still have to say as far as my pain goes...methadone was the best.

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Stay away from Lyrica very bad drug, do your own research and read forums from people who have taken it! It is about to be a class action lawsuit. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!

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I have fibromyalgia and degenerative joint disease. I have been on gabapentin for about 8 months and slept all the time. Now I just started taking lyrica today, so i don't know if it helps with the pain yet. But to reply to your Q about the weather? Oh yes! My pain gets much worse when it is rainy and humid, most definately!

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