Cycler, a medication question

[chrischris]

You seem to be knowledgable in this area. As far as Lyrica, is there yet an alternate med on the market that provides good relieve? I love the relieve obtained from taking Lyrica, and the help it provides in sleeping; but...............being a woman who never had a weight problem pre-injury, I feel like a beached whale with all the weight I have gained. I take 450 mg. daily to help control both RSD and fibromyalgia.

Thank you,

[Cycler]

Gabapentin is the old equivalent drug. ( Neurontin)

[capricorn]

Chris I have had much better luck with Neurontin for Fibro and nerve damage. I tried Lyrica and a week later still couldn't drive. I have a hard time staying consistant at 900mg or I suffer emotional side effects....no physical ones.

[sparkey]

I agree with Cycler only I was not able to take Neurontin due to side effects. Also Cymbalta can help in this area for a number of things. Depression and nerve pain. My friend has good luck with Neurontin and it helps her with her nerve pain very much. Each person is different and also your doses need to be adjusted to fit your pain. Also Topamax was prescribed by my pain management doctor for nerve pain ,and it is also good for weight loss. It is used for seisures.

I just could not take the nerve tingling in my hands and feet from the topamax. It drove me nuts!!! The ingrediants in that drug may be used in the future I saw for weight loss. I did not have an appetite when I took it. You might want to look into it. Drugs.com is a great site for checking medications.

[chrischris]

I should have mentioned that I took neurontin for awhile. It worked some, and instead of raising my script, my doctor insisted I go back on Lyrica; which I've been on for about 2 years. We discussed topamax at some point, but because I wasn't having migraine headaches, he wouldn't scribe it.

Thanks for the input. I do hope there is something out soon to replace Lyrica, without the side effects.

[Cycler]

Neurontin is a funny drug. Therapeutic dose ranges between 900 and 3200 mg per day in 3x/ day dosing. The literature describes slowly titrating the dose upwards from 100mg 3x/day and 3 to 5 days till one of two things happen, either the symptoms are improved or the patient gets diarrhea and cramps. At that point either go back down to last dose if symptoms are improved somewhat or discontinue the drug altogether.

From what I know of it, not too many non-specialists will push the dose much beyond 1800 mg per day yet that is the lowest dose one expects to see symptom improvement. Reports are that side effects from too high an initial dose or too rapid an increase result in early discontinuation of the drug when later slow re-instatement has proven helpful in certain studies.

[capricorn]

Cycler...I totally agree with you as only my PM Dr. has even mentioned raising the dosage. 900 being the lowest therapeutic dosage it's where I should be BUT everytime I hit it I have anger problems and have to go back to 600. I also see no difference in pain levels at 600 or 900. I am med sensitive so I am assuming that's the problem.

[chrischris]

Thanks

[Cycler]

No doubt. It's not for everyone. Crown Royal works too though !

capricorn Wrote:Cycler...I totally agree with you as only my PM Dr. has even mentioned raising the dosage. 900 being the lowest therapeutic dosage it's where I should be BUT everytime I hit it I have anger problems and have to go back to 600. I also see no difference in pain levels at 600 or 900. I am med sensitive so I am assuming that's the problem.

[capricorn]

I also hear that a man named Jack Daniels and his buddy Jim Beam work also.