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I need to detox off of Lyrica due to insurance change and cost measures. What can I take instead?

Ellen
10/01/09
Ellen
Topics:Fibromyalgia

This started with sleep deprivation after my fourth child was born in 1997.  He didn't sleep at night for the first 18 months.  Then I started with neck and shoulder pain that went down my arm into my fingers causing numbing.  Then it was trigger points throughout my upper body.  It has since gone into the lower body causing spasms, pain.  I have had 3 MRIs, had needles injected in assorted muscles to measure activity (looking for nerve impingment).  After gathering all my medical records for the past 10 years I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in January 2008.  Lyrica gave me such relief.  For the first time in years I felt energy during the day, slept at night - even dreaming again as well as a great reduction in what I call "episodes" that would put me in bed with pain.  The only relief I had ever felt before that was after a surgery when they gave me oxycontin.  But after only 2 days I stopped taking it because it made me feel like a drug attack.  Lyrica makes me feel "normal".  I do have herniated cervical discs, have been to pain clinics that performed cervical epidurals, facet injections and the final recommendation was a procedure that uses fish oil or another irritant to try to generate new collagen for ligaments in my neck.  I haven't had the last procedure because it isn't covered by insurance and has to be performed at least three time for it to be successful and is quite expensive.  I am afraid of what is going to happen when I go off the Lyrica... 

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JoshuaY
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JoshuaY is Things Are Better Then They Seem!

I'm A 21 year old male living with consistent pain. I've been in...

Thursday, October 01, 2009

There are other medications for Fibromyalgia including Cymbalta and Savella which are in the SNRI family (antidepressants)

 

Lyrica is an Anti-Epileptic, Neurontin, which comes in generic most likely will be covered by insurance.  It is another nerve med that is very similar to Lyrica.  I am currently taking Neurontin due to cost of Lyrica as well!  It helps me just as much if not more!

 

If that doesen't work, or you'd rather JUST take lyrica pfizer offers a program for uninsured or underinsured and if you quality and you send in the information they'll send your doctors office 3 month supplies of Lyrica at a time! Here is the website :)

 

http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx

 

I hope all this helps, I understand fully and I HOPE you find relief that WORKS!

re: I need to detox off of Lyrica due to insurance change and cost measures. What can I take instead?
Ellen
Friday, October 02, 2009 at 09:40 AM

Thanks Joshua, I have tried Neurontin in an effort to detox off Lyrica.  I began taking Neurontin as soon as my Lyrica ran out and spent 5 days without sleep as well as very strange sensations in my head.  Two different times I tried to get off Lyrica and had to go back on it after 1 week.  This is why I am afraid.  Neither time did I slowly wean off the drug though so I am hoping that a reduced amount over an extended time may work better.  Did you go directly to Neurontin or did you detox first?

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re: re: I need to detox off of Lyrica due to insurance change and cost measures. What can I take instead?
JoshuaY
Friday, October 02, 2009 at 09:50 AM

Ive only been taking lyrica for 2 months, and I am SLOWLY cutting my doses down and replacing with Neurontin. 

 

I haven't had much problem, just note that the Lyrica is MUCH strong than the Neurontin and make sure your doctor puts you on the correct amount of Neurontin to continue the same benefit!

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