Lyrica Side Effects??

[Junie]

Has anyone had any bladder/kidney/UTI issues since starting Lyrica??
Thanks in advance!!

[Jane]

I have been taking Lyrica successfully for about nine months. For the first six weeks or so, there was a definate problem with fatigue and dizziness for about two hours after taking it. For that reason, my doctor had me take it at bedtime and two hours before I would normally get up. This meant I took it at 8:00 pm and 6:00 am. Once we got beyond this, a third dose was added with no difficulty. Good Luck.

[Jyes]

I had dizziness and fatigue also, but nothing else while I was taking Lyrica, 75mg 3x per day. But those side effects did not subside after two months so I stopped taking it.

Jyes

[Idealist]

I had the same side-effects as Jane and Jyes. Like Jyes, I quit taking it after a while, 'cause the bad outweighed the good.

[Junie]

Thanks,
I was not sure....I know so far I have all the side effects listed on their site ( I call it my crazy pill since it makes me feel crazy) but I am backing way off of it for now as I am having blackouts ( I had 2 knots on my head without knowing why) Dr wanted me to start taking 50mg 2 x daily and by end of the month to be at 6 x daily and I got as high as 4 x a day when I saw it was not going to work so I am now down to 1 or 2 a day and I will have to deal with etra pain until I see Dr again in a couple of weeks!
I will just hope the Macrocbid clears up whatever I have:)

[shotspine]

Just thought I'd let you know.....you have company. I've never taken Lyrica but right now I'm suffering terribly from side effects of Nortriptyline. I can barely see this screen and can't think. Threads I want to address and can't. Dr said today to expect 3 days after last dose (last night) for system to clear.

I wish you well. See you soon when I can think straight!!!

Hugs (I can always give those):)

[jane2]

Clear a works really well for me but I couldn't find it does it could tolerate. I was sleeping all the time. I never thought of taking it at night. I thought was supposed to take a twice a day. Maybe next time I will try it at night. So I went back to Neurontin , which isn't perfect eithe, but it's the devil I know.

[kimmydawn]

Hi everyone.

I couldn't tolerate the dizziness and sleepiness as well caring for my toddler nephew. :(

Did anyone who took it, or are taking it, at bedtime have difficulty with feeling hungover in the a.m., or difficulty waking up as well?

KD

[Junie]

Yep!! I had them all ( SE's) except wt gain!:(

[marijo]

I gained 28 pounds with Neurontin, I'm usually small, so I found this very upsetting. My pain management doc. then wanted me to try Lyrica, but I felt it was too similar to Neurontin, both chemically and the SE. I tried Cymbalta, but it made me feel dreadfully sick, and upset my ;liver, I finished up with Topamax, 200mg twice a day. Its fine. I still have quite a lot of pain, but its the best option, least side effects. I combine with paracetamol, tramadol, and a small amount of anti depressant. Generally though I really loathe having to take drugs at all. I have fused vertebrae, debenerative spine, and probs with abdominal organs as a result of spiney issues, and a weak left arm. Despite all life is wonderful!!:)

[ellitoid]

I also hade the same symptoms from lyrica. it was awful. i was only on it for a couple of weeks and i hade uti problems. i never refilled it because it was so bad. glad to see that i was not imagining the problems.

but i never had any problems with nortriplyne. I have been on that for a long time and i have to say that this is the one drug that i have not had any side affects with. sorry you had the problems with it.

I also had a terrible time with neurotin, i hated that drug. gained weight and was just a walking brain fogg hated it.

hope that you all find the meds that work best with you.

sharon

[vilnius1956]

Hi everyone!

I'm new here. Two years ago, after suffering from chronic pain in the torso and all kinds of other weird symptoms, I was finally diagnosed with both peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. It may be related to porphyria.
I've been taking 2100-2400mg of Neurontin for two years. It usually reduces the pain--not always--but seems to contribute to constipation problems and definitely causes a lot of fatigue and wooziness. (Esp. for 2 hours after I take it.) Are there fewer side effects with Lyrica? I can't take antidepressants anymore, nor Tramadol, as they always cause my heart to race. Anyone else know about alternatives?
I have also gained a ton of weight (about 30lbs.) even though I only consume about 1800 cal. a day (I'm 6'4" tall). Any reply would be appreciated.

[BlueMajo]

Hey Vilnius ! Welcome to the forums !!!

Well, I will share my experience with you...

I suffer of fibromyalgia and neuropathy and I took 150 mg of lyrica for almost a year and it helped me A LOT with my aches, my body temperature and my sleep problems, however, I gained weight, had water retention, my vision was "funny", sometimes felt too tired and last week had to stop it because my skin was so dry it bleeded...

Hope that helps.

Good luck ! :)

[mods]

Hey Vilnius ! Welcome to the forums !!!

Well, I will share my experience with you...

I suffer of fibromyalgia and neuropathy and I took 150 mg of lyrica for almost a year and it helped me A LOT with my aches, my body temperature and my sleep problems, however, I gained weight, had water retention, my vision was "funny", sometimes felt too tired and last week had to stop it because my skin was so dry it bleeded...

Hope that helps.

Good luck ! :)

hi,

i'm new here.

i was taking lyrica for 6 days now and i would like to ask if its normal that i feel dizzy? thanks

:)

[torey]

I gained 28 pounds with Neurontin, I'm usually small, so I found this very upsetting. My pain management doc. then wanted me to try Lyrica, but I felt it was too similar to Neurontin, both chemically and the SE. I tried Cymbalta, but it made me feel dreadfully sick, and upset my ;liver, I finished up with Topamax, 200mg twice a day. Its fine. I still have quite a lot of pain, but its the best option, least side effects. I combine with paracetamol, tramadol, and a small amount of anti depressant. Generally though I really loathe having to take drugs at all. I have fused vertebrae, debenerative spine, and probs with abdominal organs as a result of spiney issues, and a weak left arm. Despite all life is wonderful!!:)

i am going to take topamax this weekend, i was on lyrica but it made me have weight gain and hair loss and it didnt help, so now i am going to try the topamax and lyrica, cutting the lyrica to half the amount till i dont take it anymore,i also take tramadol, hopefully it will be less soon, i dont know is this makes sense, i have perihreal neuropaty and radiculopathy.

[Tammy R]

I feel awful just to say anything here... All of you sound as though the pain that you suffer from is far worse than mine.... I have neurological disorder called CHARCOT MARIE TOOTH... I suffer from alot of pain aswell, leg and back cramps and spasms.. I literally walk myself out of place. I too take lyrica, 150 mg 2 times a day.. Not touching the pain at all.. I was diagnosed back 1996, was told by 1998 I would be in a wheelchair, but it is 2009 and I am still walking even though it has become more of a struggle... The side effects aren't bad enough for me to stop taking... I can say this I can sleep again....
I have a Doctors appointment so I am off for now...


God Bless you All,
Tammy :grouphug:

[BlueMajo]

hi,

i'm new here.

i was taking lyrica for 6 days now and i would like to ask if its normal that i feel dizzy? thanks

:)

Yep, according to my doc it is normal... Thats why he told me to take it at night... Before I feel dizzy, I will be sleeping deeply... :)

[Grizabella]

Are UTI's a side effect of Lyrica? My gosh! Maybe that explains it! I've had one after another after another for over a year and I can't seem to get away from them. I've never had so many in my life! I'm on prednisone daily at a low dose for my neuropathy but I wouldn't think that would cause it when it didn't before. Unfortunate because the Lyrica works better for me than Neurontin in that I don't gain weight but what does the most good for me is Trileptal. I know that because if I miss a dose of that or am even late with it by a couple of hours, my feet light right up with burning. I feel like I could easily go off the Lyrica and not miss it, to be honest. Maybe I'll tell my neurologist that I want to discontinue it. Neurontin was horrible for me---my legs swelled up like stovepipes and my lungs got fluid in them. Won't touch that stuff again.

I'm taking huge amounts of cranberry capsules and drinking so much water that I feel like a sponge and I'm getting sick of water. Even with that, it's a constant battle with the UTI's. I never thought I'd say that because I like water better than anything else to drink. I've never liked soda or juices or milk that much.

[ahcole]

Hi Mods
I'm new here too. I've been on Lyrica for 18 months and find it works well for my neuropathy. Dizziness is often mentioned as a side effect and for me it was only at the beginning, the first few weeks, and when I upped my dose.
The only lasting side effect for me is I have to watch what I eat now because I started putting on some pounds. This is actually a good thing :winky: because my diet has become much healthier.
Best of luck with the Lyrica.

[jahrlichsieben]

I have been on Lyrica for 3 years d/t PN and have trouble thinking str8, can't find the words I'm looking for, sleepy alot gained20 pounds fr 115 to 135, and now I am finding myself severely depressed and even having suicidal ideation @ times. feeling less depressed as I've gone down to 100 mg daily from 300. I intend getting off totally. Have drop foot and when I trip over my foot and fly across the room it's not much fun...only recently researched and really beginning to understand what I have, even tho I am a nurse. :(

[kimtom]

Hey everybody I was wondering if anybody has ever had an allergict reaction to Lyrica 75mg and Peanuts. Friday night I had taken my Lyrica at about 8:30 and then went out to dinner with my fiancee and I was eating a bunch of peanuts about 20 or 25 mins later my head started to get really foggy and I was having a really hard time focusing in on what people were talking about and then I got really really dizzy and was seeing black spots and had to lay down in the booth of the restaurant so that my head would stop spinning. It took from 9pm to about 2 in the morning for my head to stop spinning I also was very sick to my stomach and had a headache. If this has happen to anybody else please let me know.

[Tennis Player]

I pretty much get every single known side effect from Lyrica (I didn't know about the dizziness. I never noticed that but the, I'm blonde LOL) I've gained so much weight so fast, it boggles my mind. I've taken other drugs (Neurontin) that cause weight gain but this sin't funny any more. In the last 5 years I've gone from 120 to 170. Plus, my vision gets blurry and my hands and feet swell up so badly my ankles look like my Polish grandmother's. and noone knows why this happens. That's the disconcerting part. Am I going to be seeing a commercial on television by the Law firm of Dewey Cheatem and Howe asking, "Did anyone take the antiseizure drug Lyrica and is now suffering kidney problems or heart failure...blah blah blah. But it helps the pain so much. Now I just use it PRN. If the pain is so bad my usual meds can't cover it, I'm not sleeping but I am crying I will take two seventy-five mgs. capsules and sleep for 12 to 17 hours. At leasat when I'm asleep, I don't hurt. I usually feel better when I wake up. I also have had some recent experience with my hair falling out. My various docs thought the Tramadol was the culprit. Zonisimide actually encourages weight LOSS but does little for my pain. Susan

[MollyBrown]

Has anyone had any bladder/kidney/UTI issues since starting Lyrica??
Thanks in advance!!

I've been taking Lyrica since DX. in 2008. It was helping some of the pain, but have since had a drop in efficacy (sp?). Side effects: dizziness, extreme fatigue, irritability, and extreme weight gain. I'm on so many meds now I don't even know what is causing the constipation but I do believe Lyrica is one.You have to drink lots and LOTS of water to counteract it. I have also noticed kidney pain and sometimes a strong urine; again... in need of hydration. You have to let your doctor know of the side effects immediately and don't let them brush you off about it. The last thing anyone needs is kidney issues on top of this disease. Take care of yourself.

Also, exercise! I know its tough but even a little will help both the constipation and the UT issues. Hang in there!

[mrsD]

I have just a short comment...

Lyrica is excreted whole (not metabolized in the liver) and hence requires good hydration and kidney functions. It is a good idea to drink alot of water during the day so it can leave the body properly.

[BlueMajo]

Great advice MrsD !!!! Take lots of water because, some of the side effects are due to dryness.... so...

[Mme. De Huse]

I took ONE 75 mg capsule. Had anterior C6/7 fusion last October with coincident RSD/CRPS1. Have had 2 stellate ganglion injections that left me so ill I couldn't leave bed for some weeks. Tried Lyrica. Had immediate allergic rxn and sensitivity. Swollen lips, closing throat, suicidal ideation, inability to walk, a hallucinatory experience- my husband had to babysit me for the day- ended up in the OR for an EPI and for IV benzos to "turn it off". I must fall in the 2% who don't do well on it- but I was told by my doc's nurse never to take it again, nor should I take Neurontin.
I can't take anti-depressants for the same reason (indentical response) and I get through my day on oral dilaudid- which, ironically, helps my pain and allows me to think far more clearly.

Love and luck to all.

MDH