Q: Lyrica causing loss of language?
If your doctor refuses to give you anything but Lyrica for your fibromyalgia, it's time to find another doctor. There is currently one other drug besides Lyrica that has FDA approval for treating FM – Cymbalta. But there are a number of medications that can be prescribed off-label to treat FM. Read Medications Prescribed for Fibromyalgia for a list.
Everyone with FM is different and the same treatment plan doesn't work for all. It's usually a matter of trial and error to find the combination of medications and other therapies that work for each individual. You need a doctor who is willing to work with you to find the right combination for you.
Good luck to you!
Megs, yes,yes,yes. I had the same experiance when I was put on lryica.
Almost like you could not get the words out or think of the way to word something you wanted to say. Took forever for me to spit some comment out to the point it drove my husband crazy. My vision, speech & a couple other areas were effected by Lyrica.
Finally the Rehab. doctor I was being seen by at the time said to stop taking it that I should not be having all those side effects after being on in the length of time I was on it. I could never manage to up it or I would get really bad & fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I was happy to stop taking it & so was my husband he was frustrated at my ability to communicate. I cant even remember if it helped, I dont think so.
I found others who reported the same & we all just thought we were loosing it,lol.
Good luck I hope something comes up for you & god bless, Sammy
Hi,
I also had numerous language problems while taking Lyrica. I finally quit taking it when my son walked into the room, and for the life of me, could not say his name. I knew it of course, but just couldn't say it.
There also was the time when I walked into an elevator, and stood there looking like a complete fool, unable to bring myself to press the button to go up to the floor that I wanted to go to. I was clueless on what I was suppose to do??
This was a couple of years ago, and I still have trouble to this day, remembering things that happened during the time while I was taking that God awful drug. The most important being the birth of one of my grandchildren. Even though I was right in the room for his birth, again, I cannot recall anything that happened on that wonderful day!
As for your doctor sayng that there is nothing else that he can give you, find another doctor!!!! He/she might not want to prescribe something stronger, but there are many many drugs available to use.
In this day and age, there is no reason to have to suffer in pain, or look like a complete idiot, just to function like a normal person.
Good luck to you, and I hope by now you have found something , to help you with your pain.
Murkath
I too have had problems with finding the right words, or saying another word that is not appropriate. My husband is getting very good at correcting me gently, and I find he right word eventually. Not sure if it is Tardive Dyskinesia or apraxia. Very frustrating, esp when talking with friends. Haven't mentioned it to my pain doctor, but will do so at my next visit. A truly frustrating situation, as I am a retired physical therapist with 40 years of practice under my belt. I feel quite lost and betrayed by my body and brain.
wanderer
Oh, my, I thought I was going crazy. By profession I'm both a literary-and-film editor and a radio presenter - neither good for word loss, which is incredibly scarey. I'm so relieved to have found this site. Trouble is, when I reduce the Lyrica, which I've tried, my arms and legs start shaking badly again. Do I have to decide which is the lesser of two evils, or is there an alternative? Nothing seems to help my pain, but I think the worst of that is arthritis. Who knows. No-one ever told me that growing older would be such fun!
I'm back in grad school but I also write as a hobby. For me the lesser of the two evils was being off the Lyrica. It caused me to gain 50 pounds and it made me feel like a zombie. (My brother took it after back surgery and we jokingly called Lyrica our "stupid pills" because it made us feel like idiots. Ditto for gabapentin and topamax.) Here I am, 2 years from when I first posted about this, and I STILL have trouble finding words or communicating complete thoughts sometimes. I truly believe that Lyrica permanantly damaged certain language skills for me. My current regimen is accupuncture, diet (Yes, this part is awful, but a macro-biotic mostly vegan diet does help), stretching and exercises I learned from a physical therapy course for pain rehab. I take vicodin when the pain overwhelms me, but otherwise I use heat packs, hot tub soaks and swimming to ease pain and stay mobile.
As far as diet... I'm having fun with Tosca Reno's Eat Clean diet, Alicia Silverstone's Kind Diet (extreme if you are a carnivore like me, just to warn you), and the Cancer Survivor's Guide. (I don't have cancer, but the recipes in this book are great!) I find that cutting out meat, dairy and eggs helps energy levels and over-all pain levels. Acupuncture also helps A LOT. I'd rather splurge now and then and know what will happen to my body when I do than be a slave to medications.
Good luck and hang in there!
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My only advice is to get off the Lyrica. I have been off the Lyrica for more than a year and I still have problems finding words. For example, instead of "hand me my wallet" I frequently end up saying "hand me the pay thing." It's maddening. I am a full time law student and I also find that writing essay answers on exams is extremely difficult when it would not have been before. I don't know your condition, Wanderer, but I have had very good results with PT and biofeedback. If you can find a good doctor who will listen, it is important to address this issue. I filed a report with the FDA and I urge you to do so as well. I wish you a blessed 2010!