In the process of finding out if my sick 25 yr. old son has lyme disease (as I and my sister have with different symptoms). Neurologist wants to start him on lyrica. His tests were just done so no treatment has started yet. What do you know about lyrica? should he take it? He started with terrible anxiety and panic attacks and now has tingling/weakness in legs and severe fatigue and painful hips.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Is he taking magnesium? This can help with pain, and with anxiety. Anxiety and panic attacks are symptoms of low magnesium.
Is he taking fish oil? This can help to reduce muscle and joint pain, as it reduces inflammation.
Is he taking a good B multiple? Extra B12, in the form of methylcobalamine, can be taken sublingually (under the tongue).
Posted by jlf2012 (Member # 36002) on :
He takes a good B multiple (he lives on his own but has been staying with us a lot). He doesn't take fish oil or magnesium. He gets diarrhea easily. Is there a magnesium form that doesn't cause that?
Anyone on Lyrica?
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
If he's getting diarrhea easily, he could try Kefir. It's simple to make with the starter powder, although you do get more strains of beneficial bacteria with the grains. This improves gut health, which helps the immune system.
For magnesium, I take Source Naturals UltraMag and Peter Gilham's mag Calm. I also eat alot of beans, which are high in magnesium.
The magnesium and the fish oil will help to reduce inflammation, which should help with the hip pain and the leg weakness.
I was on Lyrica before I knew I had Lyme. A neurologist had given it to me for my all-over pain. I didn't really notice that much of a difference. I have seen way more improvement with simply treating the Lyme itself.
Good luck!
Posted by kellyjk4 (Member # 19731) on :
I'm sorry that your son is having such a hard time. My 22 year old has finally starting treatment and is having a terrible time right now. It's awful to see your child suffer.
I've been on Lyrica for several years now - I take it 3-4 times per day, along with Norco. The Lyrica has really helped me. My main areas of pain are my legs, hips and back.
One thing to be careful of is that your son can (probably will) go through withdrawal symptoms if he just stops taking it. He will have to be weaned off. I ran out of it once and was very sick until I took it again.
For me, the benefit far outweighs the drawback. It has made the difference between functioning and non-functioning for me.
Posted by hopeforhealth (Member # 23673) on :
I was on Lyrica before I was diagnosed. It helped with my pain. After trying many different pain medications I finally got some relief.
After 2 moths my hair started falling out. I got major hair loss from it. At the time it was not listed as a side effect but I know it was from the Lyrica. Hair loss is now listed as a side effect of Lyrica.
It was awful I was a 27 year old female who was sick with a mysterious disease and now I was having to deal with the thought of going bald. It went on for a year and a half.
I would never take that drug again.
Posted by ESG (Member # 4816) on :
Lyrica made me terribly spacey & mentally disconnected - frighteningly so! It is not for everyone, so have him be careful if he uses it. I know others who were also affected this way. I got off it very quickly for my own safety.
I recently started B12 shots: those have been miraculous for the fatigue! Years ago an LLMD wanted me on them but I was so sick I could not deal with the idea; I wish I had started sooner.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Any of the psych meds can cause adverse reactions for tickborne disease patients. Be especially careful not to take any SSRI's as they are the most problematic.
Hubby does much better on herbs and supplements than he does on any type of psych meds.
One problem with treating lyme and tickborne diseases is that if you are not careful you could end up taking a med to control every symptom and then it gets difficult to tell if the antibiotics are really working.
Make sure your LLMD knows all the meds you are taking.
I would suggest buying the Healing Lyme book by Buhner. The herbs are relatively cheap and he has great suggestions for herbs and supplements to take for many different symptoms. The book also includes well researched info on lyme disease.
Many people have more success combining herbs and antibiotics than just using antibiotics or herbs alone.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posted by jlf2012 (Member # 36002) on :
Seibert - I had never heard that about pscyh drugs worsening lyme symptoms. My son's problems began with fatigue and panic attacks. He was put on paxil. Could this be making physical symptoms worse even though it's helping the panic attacks? How did your husband react? Anyone else worsen symptoms on SSRI?
Posted by ladycakes (Member # 12619) on :
Just throwing in my two cents, I was also on Lyrica before I found out I had Lyme. I'd been on a string of antidepressants for pain that did basically nothing (except for all the crummy side effects!)
The Lyrica actually did make my legs feel better (had most of my pain in the large joints in my legs, at the time) but I did feel kind of stoned on it. I could live with that, but I ended up with chorea which my neuro blamed on the Lyrica (had the same side effect with tizanadole I think).
Posted by katrinab (Member # 30330) on :
I Was on lyrics and it helped. The I read that it causes weight gain. Like a lot. I didn't want to gain weight so I quit it. Did anyone here gain weight on it?