Have you tried that new fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue med?

Question

Lyrica( spelling may be wrong) is the first fibromyalgia drug approved by the government. It sure seems to help the pain. Since Chronic Fatigue and Fibromaylgia are considered to be the same, try it for chronic fatigue too. Have you tried it and did it work for you?

Answer 1

Lyrica is the brand name of pregabalin. It was designed as a more potent successor to gabapentin (Neurontin). There is some understanding of what the drug does in the body, but it is not clearly understood how it works. However, it has been found to be very effective in many disorders, and is approved for use in fibromyalgia, seizures, diabetic neuropathy and anxiety/panic disorders. However, many people have found it successful as treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (also known as RSD) and other neurologically mediated pain syndromes.

I have prescribed this medication for patients, and have taken the medication myself, and find few complaints of side effects, good response in most patients, and the only issue I have had is patient compliance with the usual three times per day dosing schedule.

Overall, it is a good medication, and a great help to those patients with nerve related pain.

EDIT: Maris has staed that CFS and Fibromyalgia are not the same, and speaking specifically, she is correct. However, there is frequently, a significant overlap of patients with these syndromes, both have no known cause, and the treatments for both, until recently have been largely symptomatic. In persons who report multiple syndromes with unknown causes, it is assumed that the probable cause is related. Thus persons with both CFS and FMS probably have a root cause with multiple symptoms. The more symptomatic a person becomes, the less likely any therapies will be effective. In those persons with multiple overlapping pain syndromes, while antiepileptic drugs can provide a 50% relief of symptoms it is often the expectation of the patient of complete relief that makes them find the medication useless. Also, frequently, these same patients do not reach the optimal dose of 150 mg three times a day, as they notice no benefit at the starting doses and stop the medication early.

Most practitioners find that patients with significant overlapping pain syndromes, while needing medication support for the symptomatic relief, find the greatest benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapies and counseling about reasonable expectations and lifestyle changes.

I wish you the best with your condition. Give the medication three full months, any less will not show you the full benefit.

Answer 2

I have found that dietary changes have made a huge difference in my fibro symptoms. I cut out all sugar, all grains and all high-glycemic fruits and vegetables, 4-1/2 years ago. Lost 130 lbs, which no doubt helped the fibro too. But after being at goal weight for awhile tried reintroducing grains and definitely got worse. I also take a few supplements that work well for me (I test them by stopping after a few months to see if any symptoms come back, since it's too easy to not notice ones that have gone away, but very clear when they return). I take l-carnitine, co-q 10, OrthoSleep (by AOR), ChromeMate (by NOW), time-released melatonin (Innovite), NADH + Co-Q (AOR), calcium citrate, magnesium with malic acid (Sisu), potassium, B complex, B-12 sublingual, 4000 IU of vitamin D, O3 Mega Joy (special blend of fish oil that's higher in EPA than DHA). It's expensive, but it's that or be disabled. Tegretol and Neurontin are my two main prescription drugs for fibro. Tegretol in particular really helps to promote sleep and with pain. I did try the iodine, but felt it didn't do anything for me. I do eat dulse every day, though, which is a natural way to boost iodine. I had my first symptoms in 1992, dx'd in 1993 and have been living with this disease for 22 years.The only other thing that helped was the Dr St Amand Guaifenesin Protocol, but it got too difficult to get the medication in Canada. If you're in the U.S. and can get Mucinex or something similar, that would definitely be the first thing I'd try. Also, the diet and ChromeMate supplement are for my reactive hypoglycemia, which Dr St Amand believes occurs concurrently in about 40% of fibromyalgics, and accounts for a significant amount of their pain.

Answer 3

Fibro and chronic fatigue are NOT the same thing. And this drug is another waste of time. It's not new, it's been around. Most people I know that have tried it for fibro have since tossed it. I've even tried it and tossed it.

While it's true many people with fibro have chronic fatigue, that doesn't mean people with chronic fatigue have fibro. I have fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, chronic lumbar pain, and chronic fatigue. Sure, I have a lot of other issues that are aggravated by the fibro. I even have sleep apnea. But again, many people with sleep apnea have chronic fatigue but not everyone with chronic fatigue have sleep apnea.

I'm refering a decent article, however incomplete, on fibro and myofascial pain. I have a book even better - someone on my bookshelves.

Answer 4

Hi there,
I'm a medical researcher. Neuropathy is not a single disease instead, it is a complication found in a number of different underlying medical conditions. Seek medical care right away if you notice any unusual tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet. Early diagnosis and treatment offers the best chance for controlling your symptoms and preventing further damage to your peripheral nerves. If your symptoms interfere with your sleep or you feel depressed, your doctor or pain specialist may be able to suggest treatments that can help.

A good natural program I recommend to help you cure your neuropathy can be found here http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=569
Bye Bye

Answer 5

No, I haven't tried it, I do have a written Rx for it, but since it is supposed to be almost identical to Neurontin ~~Gabapentin, is the generic name for it~~The Neurontin did nothing for me..{I'm somewhat afraid of new meds}...I have FMS badly...I'd like, very much, to hear more about it and how it helped you. And by the way..you spelled it perfectly!!! Thank You for bringing this up...tis important for alot of people that have it, but are afraid to admit it..for so many reasons!!! I really would like to hear what you have to say..I may try it? ? ?

Answer 6

Yes I was put on 25mgs before bed and find it is excellent, get a good night's sleep and have just come back from a three mile walk. Good Luck

Answer 7

i tried it and i gained a lot of weight.i really didn't need to gain weigh because i am now a type 2 diabetic.