randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
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.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- 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. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
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?
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Topic: Looking for long term pain management -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
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.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
I tried Lyrica last year and it made my "fibro" (lyme) pain worse.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
Opiates can be helpful in moderation. I wouldn't rule them out. The trigger point injections didn't help me.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
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.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Fibromyalgia is NOT an illness, but resulting pain from a bacterial/viral infection!
Posts: 8981 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
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.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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lightfoot
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2536
posted
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.
-------------------- Healing Smiles.....lightfoot Posts: 7228 | From CO | Registered: May 2002
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posted
I used cymbalta for about a yr before I knew what I really had, and it helped me. Not on it any more.
Posts: 908 | From Albany | Registered: Nov 2008
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
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.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- 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. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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