• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • Contact

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and IC Disease

  • Home
  • Fibromyalgia
    • Fibromyalgia Awareness
    • Fibromyalgia Research
    • Fibromyalgia Symptoms
    • Fibromyalgia Treatments
  • Chronic Fatigue
    • Awareness
    • Pediatric CFS
    • Research
    • Symptoms
    • Treatments
  • Chronic Illnesses
    • Cancer
    • Interstitial Cystitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Chronic Pain
    • Vitamin D Deficiency
    • Women’s Health
  • Sandy’s Journey
  • Coping Corner
    • Disability
You are here: Home / Fibromyalgia / Fibromyalgia Treatments / Lyrica: One of Time’s 2007 Top Ten Medical Breakthroughs

Lyrica: One of Time’s 2007 Top Ten Medical Breakthroughs

10 Comments

755990_pills.jpg

Lyrica (made by Pfizer) was named one of Time’s top 10 2007 medical breakthroughs. Lyrica is the newly FDA approved, only prescription drug on the market to treat Fibromyalgia. Lyrica, which was already FDA approved to treat epilepsy, neuropathy, and discomfort from shingles, has been a long awaited miracle for many Fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia pain is hard to treat and often does not respond to the traditional painkillers doctors normally prescribe. Lyrica works by slowing down impulses in the brain that cause seizures. Lyrica also affects chemicals in the brain that send pain signals across the nervous system.

Although this drug has been a much answered prayer for some, others I have talked to are experiencing some of the negative side effects that come with most medications. Some of the side effects I have commonly heard about Lyrica include worsening of fatigue, which is something Fibromyalgia patients do not need anymore of!

Side effects from using Lyrica include:

– Muscle pain, weakness and/or tenderness
– Easy bruising or bleeding
– Swelling of hands and feet
– Rapid weight gain
– Dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety
– Blurred vision
– Balance problems
– Memory and concentration problems
– Dry mouth
– Skin rash and itching
– Constipation
– Stomach pain
– Appetite increase
– Joint & muscle pain

Filed Under: Fibromyalgia Treatments Tagged With: Fibromyalgia, Lyrica

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. cat boysen says

    January 2, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    I have been taking lryica for 2 years now because I have RSD. But now my muscles and joints hurt. I also cann’t remember anything.
    cat

    Reply
  2. FreeFromItAll says

    January 8, 2008 at 9:46 am

    I don’t know if Lyrica is the medical miracle FM patients are looking for, but at least it’s a start. The medical field and drug companies are recognizing it as a medical condition. That’s one of the best benefits from Lyrica IMO.

    Reply
  3. Nadia says

    January 9, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    I have begun taking Lyrica (200mg) for neuropathy. I have noticed decreased pain, more than with pain-killers. I did gain LOTS of weight however and I am always hungry. I gained about 10 lbs the first week and have gained 20 additional pounds since I started Lyrica in November. I am using exercise and diet to maintain my weight. I have no other bad side effects except constant dry-mouth and sleepiness. It is a good medication, but expensive.

    Reply
  4. sandy says

    January 9, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Hi Nadia, Weight gain one reason why I’m afraid to try it. If a side effect of a drug is weight gain, that one always affects me.

    Reply
  5. Janet says

    February 1, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    I have just started on this drug..50 mg. at night..this for my numbness after chemo therapy..I can see a difference just after one week..I will see later about side effects..none yet..thank you

    Reply
  6. leah says

    March 19, 2008 at 11:03 am

    I had a bad experience with Lyrica. I was on a very low dosage
    25 mg , twice a day for 6 months. Over this period I developed
    a severe Vitamin D deficiency even though my diet didnt change.

    The result was a nightmare. If you dont get enough Vitamin
    D – you stop absorbing Magnesium. So I began to experience
    terrible bone and muscle pain. I also developed muscle twitches
    all over my body due to the low magnesium. My blood calcium
    went up – since with no VitaminD, you cant absorb calcium.
    Your body starts to take the calcium from your bones – so osteoporosis.

    I was placed on Vit D3 , 50,000 units a week plus Ca plus Mg
    for 3 months. My D3 went from 9 to 40. So, I am now in the
    normal range. I now take 10,000 units of D3 as a maintenance
    therapy and the calcium and the magnesium.

    I hurt less but the twitches remain.

    If you take Lyrica, make sure you take twice the RDA
    for Vitamin D3 every day plus calcium.

    That is 800 mg of D3 and 1200 mg of Calcium.
    You can buy a combo tablet.

    The doctors wont tell you this – but hey a low D3 level is very
    bad and at least for me LYRICA did it to me.

    I wont take Lyrica now – no way.

    Reply
  7. Steve says

    August 29, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    Sure seems that others are having some significant “side effects”. Is the benefit worth it?

    Reply
  8. Artie says

    September 23, 2011 at 8:43 am

    My wife has Epstein Barr and CFS and my friend has fibro. She tried Lyrica but it made her drowsy and the bruising was awful. She often seeks prescription remedies but my wife is going organic, exercising and improving her diet and rest habits. Over time, she is feeling better and experiences less fatigue. I don’t think there is a quick fix for what they have.

    Reply
  9. George Tillman says

    September 27, 2011 at 6:10 am

    Chronic fatigue is not only debilitating for the patient, but it is also difficult to diagnose without multiple tests by your physician. Lyrica could most certainly be welcome news to anyone suffering and in pain from Fibromyalgia.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

find us on facebook

Recent Comments

  • Lydia on Eosinophilic Cystitis
  • Pifer on Rosacea: Related to ME/CFS & FM?
  • Wolf on Noise Is Causing Panic Attacks
  • Mich on Living Daily with Pain Around the Clock
  • Frida on Presentation/Online Q & A with XMRV Researcher, Dr. Judy Mikovits
  • Nolans on Rules For Determining SSDI
  • Marius Moon on Heat & Humidity Affect My CFS & Fibromyalgia

Secondary Sidebar

Sub Topics

  • Fibromyalgia Awareness
  • Fibromyalgia Research
  • Fibromyalgia Symptoms
  • Fibromyalgia Treatments

Copyright © 2022 ยท FightingFatigue.org