my friend was put on lyrica (i think that's the name).
she said it did seem to help her pain.
but it's for fibro pain and not lyme, which she has.
so can these meds be interwoven? somebody did give me celexa one time when i was really sick with overall pain and it helped tremendously. knocked it out within hours.
but my gp wouldn't give me any so i've never taken it since.
i don't know anything about fibro except that alot of people say there is no such thing and that it's lyme.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Yes, Lyrica (Pregabalin) seems to help many with (using the term only as a descriptor here) "fibromyalgia" regardless of the cause.
This is nearly the same as Neurotin (Gabapentin), an anti-seizure drug that is also used to treat neurological pain.
It works in the same basic way as magnesium and taurine (which I think are far better & safer than these Rx) -
- Lyrica & Neurotin supports the GABA to suppress NMDA receptors that cause pain.
The only thing is that, if that FM or pain is CAUSED by lyme, lyrica will not help at all to address the cause.
My question to your friend is if she has been assessed for lyme or other stealth infections, has she been assessed for
celiac (that can cause pain), and
has she been told to avoid ALL processed foods and beverages. All. ?
This is because so many additives increase the NMDA excitatory receptors and then can cause pain, anxiety and even nerve damage.
If not, her doctor is doing her no favors by covering over symptoms with Lyrica. But, if she is addressing all the causes, then if it helps, great.
I just think it's not so easy on the body. Not everyone can tolerate it and there are other alternatives. Still, if it helps her be better able to cope and then explore the causes, great. -
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
I think Fibro & Lyme are both illnesses people can have. They may have them separately or together.
I tried a sample of Lyrica & it didn't help me. I don't like the idea of anti-depressants but who knows...? May be the placebo effect?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Topic: Looking for long term pain management -
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i went to a pain management clinic around here one time.
he wanted me to take heavy duty pain killers and get nerve injections.
i said no and am glad i did.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
I tried Lyrica last year and it made my "fibro" (lyme) pain worse.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Opiates can be helpful in moderation. I wouldn't rule them out. The trigger point injections didn't help me.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Lyrica will not "fix" "fibro".. that is for sure. I think neurontin has far fewer side effects than lyrica.
I was misdiagnosed with FM 30 yrs ago. Twas lyme and perhaps also GLUTEN. My pain was better once I got rid of the gluten.
Posted by back2game (Member # 23927) on :
I've said it more than once and will continue as long as someone asks .... LYRICA almost killed me.
For me, it initially made me feel it was helping the pain, but the pain stayed at the same level, helped with coping with it only.
Worse 4 years of my life.
I must add that I have MTHFR (2 copies), so I don't metabolize things like some.
No attacks, please, about use of meds, they DON'T work for all.
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
Lyrica works great for me. Neurontin didn't help at all.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I tried everything for fibro over the years.
The best treatment is treating the Lyme - I went on oral clindamycin 150mg every 6 hours, and within a week's time, all that fibro pain went to zero!
We're all different in what we respond to, but the concept is the same - treat the illness and you will hopefully feel much better.
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
Fibromyalgia is NOT an illness, but resulting pain from a bacterial/viral infection!
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Lyrica (pregabalan) is the newer form/cousin of Nuerontin(gabapentin) The advantages are you can use lower doses so the side effects are less.
I've tried Neurontin in huge doses and it did nothing for me. Then I had sever withdrawl and had to go off very very slow (a couple of months)
It seems that for most people Lyrica is a better choice. I think it only helps if your pain is nuerological, though.
I think Fibro may or may not be a real disease - but I know with certainty it is grossly over diagnosed. I was diagnosed after about five blood tests (thyroid and a few other very basic tests)
IMHO - CFS or ME is a symptom.
Both are caused by some sort of infection (I think MS is, too) but who knows if they will bother trying to figure it out.
Posted by lightfoot (Member # 2536) on :
mojo,
You're the first one who I've heard report that you had to come off of the Neurontin slowly too. The withdrawal was not good. I was told by the medical establishment that withdrawal was never a problem with Neutontin.
Posted by jlcd1 (Member # 18138) on :
I used cymbalta for about a yr before I knew what I really had, and it helped me. Not on it any more.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
ann takes celebrex for her lyme. now what that does i don't know but she swears by it.
i thought it was for arthritis.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Celebrex can not address lyme. It is in no way an antibacterial nor anti-spirochetal agent.
It is just a NSAID.
It can fool the brain and mask symptoms (often tearing up the stomach in the process) but it cannot fool lyme. It will not at all deter lyme. -