Side Effects of Lyrica and Fibromyalgia

[Amygondor]

Uhm... we are not talking about Lyrica music here, right? *confused*

[AngelBug109]

Its also anti seizure you gain weight, feel loopy get vertigo tiredness etc I take it wi Dilantin (another antiseizure med) and its not fun, after years of 300mg of Lyrica Im finally slowly weening off it. Helps my dad is a doctor and is helping me get off it. Hope to get off Dilantin too but if forced to have one I would go with Dilantin....anyway just felt like passing knowlege of this med.

[BeeRich33]

I'm sorry..."looniness"? That isn't really much of a description. I just started Lyrica.

[86kdanc]

There is something that I need to bring up. I am 24 and I was prescribed Lyrica around 3 years ago for chronic pain around the ears and jaw. Of some of the side effects listed there were these three - memory loss, problems concentrating. I have both to a significant degree. My memory used to be quite good but it has been getting progressively worse. Please advise.

[AngelBug109]

@86kdanc I have been on it for years too (for epilepsy though). Side effects on me were vertigo, swelling/weight gain, tiredness, memory loss. Not sure how much you are on I was 300mg 2 times/day (along side another antiseizure med) felt like you described, recently being lowered off lyrica and while most of my seizures caused short term memory loss, I noted a better memory focus once I was lowered to 200, so I would say either lower off lyrica or using little dosage with another med. Good luck

[86kdanc]

@AngelBug109 Interesting that you would have been taking the same dose that I am taking now except mines is 200/mg 3x day.I havent noticed any other effect but memory loss. I think I might reducing meds. But have you noticed any worsening of your epileptic condition?. Or is it just being on them for a few years and your body gets better as a result and then one can decrease?

[AngelBug109]

@86kdanc in April it will be 2yrs seizure free while on my meds and my father (who is a doctor) wanted to try to take me off one, since Dilantin is my stronger of the two meds we are lowering Lyrica (slowly). It be nice to be on no meds but honestly if I have to be one I choose Dilantin. But on reducing nothing has worsened actually I have found only improvment. If you do lower my dad advises with any meds you go slow, I would talk to my doctor about lowering if I were you. Good luck!

[86kdanc]

@AngelBug109 I am hopeful now that you have told me that you have improved now going off it. I cannot get a hold of the pain clinic doctor that prescribed me the medication to start with. I was wondering if your father could offer any advice regarding other medication that I am on? Namely Lamictal. Which I have looked up and that also can have a side effect on memory too.

[AngelBug109]

@86kdanc My dad is family practice so he is general practice. I asked him and he said Lamictal is a lot like Lyrica and the memory loss well that is due to a medicine in both medications that sedate the mind. He also mentioned a side effect of Lamictal is a rash, the rest are similar to Lyrica.

[AngelBug109]

Also, I know for me both Dilantin and Lyrica have that sedative so my memory loss was due to that and why it improved when lowering Lyrica, more energy more focus. My short term loss is due to the past seizures (they fired off in my front lobe where short term memoru is kept.) If you get off both meds, most antiseizure meds work for fibromyalgia. Talk to a doctor about Trileptal or Depakote, been on both at different times in life but be careful with Depakote major weight gain.

[86kdanc]

@AngelBug109 Thanks Angel. Ill certainly consider it!