Lyrica Long Term Use Side Effects

I've been taking lyrica 75mg 3x day which was prescribed by my physiatrist concurrently w/ Cymbalta 30mg. Great combination for me. They seem to work together. Lyrica relieved me ot debilitating neuropathic pain, burning & tingling, in feet, calves, sacroiliac, and intense aches in shins, thighs, head & neck, all associated w spinal stenosis, lumbar & cervical (neck). Before that I was taking opiates & cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxant for associated leg cramps, like Charlie horse type). When I became allergic to the cyclobenzaprine, I was switched to Valium. All good, except for the 40#s I gained and the 10" to my waist. I now have a big belly which I'm very unhappy about, despite my very strict diet.

1.5 yrs ago I had non-elective surgery: triple level lumbar laminectomy w/o fusion, to great success. I was at risk for irreversible nerve damage and stood to lose bowel & bladder control and use of my legs. It left me w/ a weak back I have to treat w care, and I of course, have arthritis pain w stiffness, but way better off.

However, now that I've been on Lyrica for this long I've noticed signs that I've read about here that may be side effects of Lyrica. Memory problems related to word reaching, remembering names of public figures, things I should know well. My joints hurt, fingers, elbows, hips, 1 knee, and my feet feel like I've been wearing a size too small, even when I've been wearing only slippers or socks. Massage helps me in a lot of ways, especially pain and muscle knotting associated w spinal arthritis/stenosis, but is of no help in these other areas.

I've started urinary leakage, getting worse. I saw my GYN thinking it might be a consequence of my estrogen deficiency; she prescribed Myrrbetrc, said. "Give it time." I thought it helped the 1st 3 months, then suddenly, I'm shopping in the incontinence aisle -now a serious problem. She also prescribed Vit D3 & B-12 based on deficiency found on blood work.

Now HERE's MY BIG Q: Does D3 & B-12 deficiency have any relation to neuropathic pain?

I ask b/c someone posted here that they were Dxs'd w neuropathy and prescribed Lyrica based on a newly discovered deficiency in those particular vitamins, and told the D3 & B-12 deficiency CAUSED neuropathy. Interestingly, I had been upped to 4 Lyrica pills and could not cut back w/o suffering more than was bearable. Eventually, now 6 mo.s on Vit supplements, I've cut back to just 2, and I can tolerate it! How can this be? Not only that, the big surprise is my incontinence problem is cut back by 2/3rds. How is this possible??

Any ideas, shared experiences, any info would be greatly appreciated. Doctors really don't know all the ins & outs of all these complex variables. They simply don't know the answers. Thanks for reading my post and any info you can offer.

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Hello, Kitty! How are you? I'm sorry about the problems you've had.

Yes, vitamin deficiencies can cause or exacerbate such issues, especially the B vitamins and they are often prescribed for people with neuropathic pain, because being deficient in them is well known to cause nerve pain, tingling and etc. as listed by the NIH.

There are very good reasons that we need to take in certain amounts of various nutrients each day, they are vital to our overall health. Other examples would be someone deficient in vitamin C contracting Scurvy, or someone deficient in potassium developing high blood pressure and/or cardiac disorders.

There are cases where severe deficiencies have even been deadly.

There are also some prescription products that have been manufactured with specific formulations of nutrients to help with neuropathic pain, such as might be experienced by people who are diabetic.

Are there any other questions or concerns?

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