Lyrica watch out!

I, too, was placed on Lyrica a few months back.  Certainly, this drug is NOT for everyone and, in my case, past heart disease really should have ruled it out! 

I took it for approximately 10 days;  by day 6 or 7 (very low dose), I was having terrible chest pain... and, i mean HEART pain and palpitations.  I was also dealing with other symptoms of heart attack..;  nausea, different jaw and (frontal) neck pain than usual, left arm pain and heaviness, difficulty breathing;  especially when waling a flight a staris.. the usual I have felt in the past (as a kid). 

After taking myself off of it, I have had a few "heart episodes" and I attribute it to Lyrica (and a few stressors in my life as I am in-between jaw surgeries). 

 SO, again;  thank you for posting this;  MANY of us who have had other problems in the past need to be watched much more closely when given ANY new drug. 

Yes, it did help with nerve pain, but;  the problems I experienced far outweighed any good the drug was doing.. They then switched to another drug similar to Lyrica;  I had continual migraine headaches and took myself off of it, too.   whatever..

 C'est la vie!

OUCH!!!!!!!!     taken at tried and tested levels Lyrica is a great gift........too much will kill you if you have any kind of respiratory ailments.   I have COPD.   Started Rx at 75 mg am & pm.  Worked great.  Then I allowed a Psychiatrist to DOUBLE that dose because of peripheral neuropathy pain.    BIG MISTAKE       should have consulted my primary MD first....  How was I to know a shrink is not a REAL doctor!!??  I proceded to gain 20 pounds in 2 weeks and pulmonary edema was literally drowning me.  Finally hit me what was happening and I stopped all Rx's for 3 days.   LOST 23 Lbs in 2 days!!!!!!!!    Got urinary tract infection and was hoping to just be put out of my misery.   All is back on track now but Lyrica will never again join my voaculary in a good way!

Hello Cheri and to Everyone reading this post, WOW, after reading all the responses about Lyrica and everyone's different side effects, thats really scary to me. I must be the only one on the other side of the chain. Ive been taking Lyrica for about 6 weeks now givin to me by my primary care doctor. i started at 50mg in the AM, and 50mg on the PM. then i jumped to 50mg-AM and 75mg-PM. Now,my doctor wants me to start taking 75mg-AM and 100mg-PM starting this next week. I hve to say, as a person who always seems to get EVERY side effect to EVERY medication, and always having to try different things because nothing ever seems to work for me....although i have to say this medication has changed my life. (in a good way!) i feel great. I havent had ANY side effects, in fact i suffer from seizures and insomina and i have noticed it has helped for both of those things as well. I dont remember if the side effect list said that it can make you drowsy so im sure thats why im sleeping better (or possibly not?..not sure) but really Lyrica has made a hige difference for me. Ive shared with people on this site before about my chronic low back pain (feel free to read my profile and other posts) but its depressing the amount of pain me as well as all of you, how much pain...as i should say. chronic pain that we all have and i was hitting the deep end. After everything i have tried for my back, wishing that just one thing might work... nothing ever did. I have SEVERE nerve damage and nerve pain as well as 3 herniated discs in my back. Ive had surgery on my low back already...it didnt help. I ended up wearing a back brace for 8 weeks too and still.....nothing. I dont know maybe i shouldnt say it didnt help at all.... but maybe only about 10-15%.

 

Either way, sorry for such the long email, i just wanted to share my input on Lyrica. It has really really REALLY helped me over all. Infact i feel like its helped me have a life again. Take care everyone and ill keep everyone posted on my success. Id love to hear more from people too! so feel free to drop me a message or post back.

 

Take Care Everyone!! and especially Cherie!!

This is my first time as a member.  I have been having back, leg and hip pain for the past 5 years.  I have received the maximum epidurals permitted each year for the last 4 years.  At first they would ease my pain for short periods, but now this past year each procedure has caused increased pain to the extent that it is almost immobilizing me.  I need support to walk around my house and a steady helping hand to get to anywhere beyond.  It seems each epidural for the past year has exaggerated my immobility more and more.  I recently have had 2 radio frequency procedures that have not eased my problem.  The pain is at the base of the spine, travels to the right hip area, down my right leg and even to the bottom of the foot.  In desparation I completed 4 sessions with a chiropractor who simply placed anodes in the back pain area for 12 minutes each session.  The result..no help.  We agreed that my problem is beyond chiropractics.  Today I found my unused Lyrica prescription and have taken the first of 3 daily doses.  My pain doctor prescribed it last January but I could not take it then due to cost and effects.  My next appointment with the pain clinic is September.  Do you think it is wise to continue with the Lyrica until then?  I am desparately asking for some guidance.  I have not been diagnosed with fibro, but my pain has the same earmarks that I've been reading about.  Also, this year I had a case of shingles which have since gone away, as well as the accompaning shingle sores and pain.  But my back, hip and leg pain continues.  Thanks for any advice you may give me.  June

wish I had seen this before I started taking this drug.

I have reactions to multiple meds over the years, and now I can add this one to the list.

I was put on it for fibromyalgia, and migraines. My doctor was reassuring when I expressed concerns about the edema I developed.

I finally took myself off it, but too late, I now have a condition I will live with forever.

Does anyone know if anyone has taken action against the company who produces it?

Jeanne