I've been taking 100 mg of lyrica for roughly 6 mos., at bedtime, and another 100 in the morning. After 1 hour I'm in pain till having pain and wake up in the middle of the night with pain. Is this common for fybromyalgia diagnosis because I was ultimately not diagnosed with fibromyalgia by rheumatoid specialist, but being treated for it by a pain specialist.
How long does it take lyrica kicks in & how long should its affects last?
Question posted by MillieG on 2 Feb 2012
Last updated on 9 August 2018 by Kgpriscilla
This question has also been asked and answered here: How long does it take for Lyrica to work?
8 Answers
Kgpriscilla
9 Aug 2018
Hi my name is Karen I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis for about two years now . I have been taking Cymbalta and Gabapentin first for about six months and gabapentin did not work for me . So they switched me to Lyrica which seems to work better . I am up to 150 mg three times a day and Cymbalta once at night along with 20 mg of Belsomra for sleep ( Belsomra works great and I have no Side effects with that ) . It does relieve some of the pain some days are better than others . Most of my Fibromyalgia is in the upper extremities from the waist up , though I do get it in my knees sometimes . It’s very difficult for me especially in the arms and shoulders because the fibromyalgia will sometimes make the osteoarthritis which is in my shoulders feel worse and vice versa the Osteoarthritis then flares up the Fibromyalgia gets bad . The side effects from the Lyrica is substantial .
The weight gain , dry mouth, tiredness , excessive sweating , forgetfulness , and some dizziness is overwhelming . I have registered for a medical marijuana card and have been approved . I have tried it and it does work very well which I will try to wean myself off of the drugs and stayed with the marijuana cannabis, because there are virtually no side effects from the cannabis. Final thoughts : the medicine does work for the most part but still have pain and not worth all the side effects , The cannabis seems to work better no side effects .
Wjenni
2 July 2018
175mg for 2 hours
505eva
21 April 2012
I started taking Lyrica in November. First it was 75 mg x 2 then a few weeks later, it was 150 mg x 2. I got no relief from it. The pain is still there. I've decided to wean myself off of it. I've been lowering the dose every five days... well today is day 5...
I tried cymbalta for 3 days. I hope to be off of lyrica in 10 days, and then we'll see what happens. I'm just sticking w/ ibuprofen. I've been in constant pain for about a year and 1/2 (sciatica).
You have to go with your gut, Millie. I finally decided that it wasn't going to kick in for me. Now the weaning...
hyperteacher
7 April 2012
Hi Millie...
I've been on Lyrice for a couple of yrs. now and my quality of life is better. I was taking 150 twice a day, but was just bumped up to 225. It took about 5 wks. for it to really start working. I also take flexeril and celexa. Somehow the combination works for me. The pain is not gone, but it is managable. I think the key is to find the right amount, and possibly combination of meds that works for you.
Hang in there!!!
Kvasconez
2 Feb 2012
Hi! I think all of us that have fibro try the big three... Lyrica, Cymbalta and Savella... at one time or another... I think most see the commercials and are so desperate for relief that we ignore the fine print. Only 30% who take any of these see any impact, and most of these see only minor or moderate relief. I was among the 60% that realized no benefit from it. Like most SSRIs or SNRIs, doctors say it takes 4-6 weeks, if they work, or work at the lower level they start you out at. It was a lovely year filled with 6 SSRIs of SNRIs before I gave up and reported to my pain/spine doctor for treatment. (actually, I found that the fibro fog diminished significantly after getting off these meds.) I hope you are among the 30% of the 30% that see relief... if you do, it should be noticeable within the 4 to 6 week window. Good luck!
Inactive
2 Feb 2012
Hi Millie, you didn't say where your pain is or whatever if you don't think it is from fibromyalgia. I take Lyrica, but have to take a very low dose due to side effects. I had stopped it by weaning down at one point becuase of blurry vision & when I was off of it I didn't sleep for an entire week! I gave in & took one at 3 AM & slept for a solid three hours, & then got up with no pain from my fibro, & continued on to do all my housework, & shopped half the day ( christmas shopping) I'm still at just one pill a day, 75mg & now I need an increase again so my doctor is trying another 50mg. It has already given me side effects with my vision & some ankle swelling. Unfortunately with these drugs some work & some don't. Neurontin is another good one, & you maybe shoud talk with your doctor about trying it. My hubby takes it & has no side effects except some tiredness. As Laura said it helps her very well.
also called gabapentin. Maybe you need a little bit of a narcotic to help also. You really need to talk with your pain doc about all of this. Hope this help somewhat...
MillieG
2 Feb 2012
Hi Mary: I tried gabapentin and it made me very tired and as I said I work full-time. My pain is all over and I have been diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma for which I am taking some heavy narcotics for the pain also along with the lyrica because doctors think my pain is also associateed with fibromyalgia, however, rheumatoid specialist rulled fibromyalgia out as part of my pain and strictly said it was from the mm. So I'm being treated to fibromyalgia with lyrica which doesn't seem to be effective and the narcotics which do work for the pain, but can't stop seeing pain specialist because he is the one scripting the narcotics for the Multiple Myeloma..
Inactive
2 Feb 2012
Millie, go to this site & go to the one listed under drugs.com for meds used for your condition. I ws amazed! Maybe you can research some of these & talk with your doc about it further... Mary
https://www.drugs.com/condition/multiple-myeloma.html
Inactive
2 Feb 2012
Millie,
Sounds as if you are in a bit of a pickle with your lyrica. As a retired health care provider, due to disabilities, and never haven taken lyrica (pregabalin), I am unable to give you first hand advice with that particular medication. I have taken just about evey other pain med available at one time or another. Neurontin (gabapentin) is a very similar medication to lyrica and costs a whole bunch less. It s also for nerve pain and works quite handily and quickly when taken for nerve pain. I started on 300 mg 3 times a day and after a while was able to lower my dosage to 100 mg 3 times a day. My diagnosis is cervical and lumbar stenosis, I had a very bad time of it with nerve damage, nerve impingement, my arms and legs would go numb and I had excruiating pain. I couldn't figure out what to do. So I started Neurontin, along with opiates.
That took care of most of my problems immediately (the pain being the symptom that eased my pain enough to feel the neurontin calm my nerve endings. I couldn't stand longer than 5 minutes before I started the Meds. I actually thought the pain was gonna kill me.
You need to get in touch with your pain doc and explain your particular situation , the symptoms you are experiencing, and how much the pain is affecting your QUALITY of life and your abilities to perform your activities of daily living and MOST OF ALL, the pain and your related sleep deprivation. This is the perfect setup for a major depressive episode. Humans do not do well without a good nights' sleep. And with all of the pain meds vailable out there, you and the doc have many to discuss and decide between. (This is assuming you are NOT already on opiates, if you are opiate tolerant, I have a whole bunch of other suggestions that I have personally tried).
Gotta go buy some food right now, but I will be back Millie,
The Happiest Smiling Hippie,
Laura
Inactive
3 Feb 2012
Millie,
I have become brain dead since I started my post to you. For that, I am truly appalled. Once I get on my soap box, I generally take all variables I can think of regarding your problem, and expound on all of them... ad nauseum. I can be long winded and obtuse. When I remember what I was gonna tell u and my opinion's regarding 'whatever', I'll get on my trusty laptop and let it all hang out.
Gee, I hope you are feeling better.
The Happy Hoppie Yippie Yappie Hippie,
Laura
BUFFYPORTER1
2 Feb 2012
Hi my name is Buffy and used to take lyrica it is alot better than cymbalta. i would suggest talking with your health care provider and see if it is time for an increase in your dose. i was taking 150mg 3 times a day. it worked for me.
MillieG
2 Feb 2012
I am already taking 200 mg a day 100 at night and 100 in the morning. If I take anymore during the day I am too tired and I work full-time. I would just like to know from others how long it takes for the 100 mg of lyrica to start working after it's taken and how long you should be pain free.
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- Lyrica uses and safety info
- Lyrica prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lyrica (detailed)
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