Wednesday, January 02, 2008
I have used Lyrica for diabetic neuropathy for about a year, and have found it to be very helpful. It controls pain very well. It is not a drug to be taken lightly, as it does have (manageable) side effects. For me, it produces not so much a sedation effect so much as a loss of focus. At the 150 mg. level (twice per day) I am not drowsy, but if I stop and sit and lose concentration, I will sit without doing any work for several minutes, just "daydreaming." The worst side effect I have had is from a sudden withdrawal when I ran out and my next batch was late in the mail. Within 24 hours I started to feel anxious and agitated, and within 48 the feeling was very pronounced. It was very uncomfortable. Nerve pain also returned strongly without the medication. I have not experienced any other significant difficulty. I know some people have had problems, but as with any drug, there will be those who can tolerate the drug and benefit, and those who have difficulties. For those who can tolerate the drug, Lyrica is a very potent and useful source for pain relief. It allows me to get through the work day without pain, and end the day at home witout having to suffer from having been on my feet all day.
