Zapping Senation

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I just started taking Lyrica. First, I was told by my doctor to take 75 mg for 3 evenings, and then I was to increase the dosage on the 4th day. I was to take another 75 mg in the a, so I would be up to 150 mg. The problem is that I woke up during the night after the 4th day, 3 times with a zapping sensation. It felt like my chest area. I decided to stop taking it, and I called my doctor and he wants me to continue with it. He said to take the 75 mg for a week, and then increase it again. He wants to give it a chance. The reason why I'm taking this is because I had a spinal fusion 1/9/08 at levels 3-4, 4-5, and since the surgery I have numbness and a weird feeling in both my legs. The back is better, but I am scared about my legs. Has anyone with a fusion been given this drug for problems in the legs after the surgery? Did you wake up abruptly with a zapping sensation in Chest area? I also notice a grogginess & slight headache taking this drug.

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1

I too have had fusion on levels 4/4 and 5/6. So I have a bit of understanding about what you have dealt with. As far as your legs -have you been checked for the circulation in your legs? My friend's doctor kept telling her the pain, numbness etc was from her herniated disc in her low back. This went on for a few months and finally she was sent for some tests. The test results showed that she had almost total blockage in her legs thus she had very little circulation in her legs and feet. The In the mean time the dr was contacted by the radiologist who let the dr knowsthat she was in critical shape and needed to have surgery immediately. This was Halloween. Her dr did not tell her until she went for her appointment in Dec. She almost lost her legs, and the graphs are not doing well. She still has poor circulation because it wasn't taken care of sooner. She now lives with swollen painful feet that get very red. It is cellulitis. As things stand, she will probably still ose her legs. All because the dr believed the leg problem came from her herniated disc and not anything else. Please make sure to have your legs checked for good circulation.

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2

I have also had grogginess and headache but these settled down after a month or two. I've been on 600 mg a day for 1 year and its good for nerve pain. I get a zapping feeling, I think I know what you mean, but mine isn't in my chest it goes down from the back of my head. It feels like an electrical pulse. Very strange!

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3

Newbie:after 2 wks at 2X50mg, have been put on 3x50mg. Much less pain relief. What is proper timing for the 3X?

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4

The FDA lists the side effects of Lyrica as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, mood changes, and weight changes. The zapping sensation is likely related to its effects on your nerves, since it is known to help some people with certain types of nerve pain.

Ref: Lyrica Information

It usually takes about 4 to 5 weeks, at one steady dosage, for side effects to hit their peak, and then start to improve.

Sha, that would be approximately every 8 hours, though the timing doesn't have to be extremely precise.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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