I am seriously considering stopping the Lyrica and Cymbalta for my post herpetic neuralgia

[CTyankee]

pain. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely type and I am dizzy. He upped my dosage on the Lyrica a while back and I fell down due to vertigo barely missing hitting my head on a piano. I also have involuntary twitching and jerking of my muscles. Even at a lower dose of lyrica these things are happening.

I have a call into the neurologist about this. He knows I'll be traveling to Sicily on a previously planned trip and I have no intention this going on while I'm on a trip. I understand that nerve pain is tough to treat but I doubt if it goes on forever. My husband says he never wants to have to pick me up off the floor again becase of meds.

Many nice DUers have offered me some natural remedies and it's time for me to try them. I'll also tell the doc I'm doing that. I feel my relationship with this guy is over...

[KamaAina]

1. Cymbalta is hell to kick

One of my all-time favorite human beings is going through withdrawal from it. It does not sound pleasant.

[LiberalEsto]

7. I need to reduce my dose of Cymbalta.

Tried once and it was awful. From what I've read, the way to go is to open capsules and remove just a few grains, gradually increasing the amount you remove. I plan to try that this summer.

[CTyankee]

10. I'll ask the doc. Sounds like a good plan...

[LiberalEsto]

19. Also, this is a good web site

http://www.theroadback.org/cymbaltawithdrawal.aspx

They have information on tapering off a number of different medications.

[KamaAina]

18. That's news she can use!

Mahalo (thank you)!

[WhiteTara]

2. Make sure you don't have to step down

on those meds. Cold turkey may have some bad results. I know that I have to be careful in stopping Pristiq. Have a wonderful trip.

[CTyankee]

5. I thought of that. I'll ask to doctor to ease me off.

I stopped taking the percoset because the doc was so worried that I'd get addicted but he said with that drug you can't taper off, you just stop. I did and I don't feel any different.

[WhiteTara]

13. I quit shaving a little off and then

each day a little more off until I was down to very little. It worked and took a few weeks.

[Kalidurga]

3. Crickey sometimes I hate knowing a smattering of latin.

I didn't know the other name was Shingles though. I must get that shot.

[CTyankee]

8. It is shingles for the first 3 months. If you still have the pain it then becomes post herpetic

neuralgia. Thanks for reminding me to ask to doc about tthe shingles shot. Maybe I can get it...

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. did you try the low dose Amitriptyline ?

My doc wanted to give me some other drugs at first for the pain, but I looked them all up and was not happy with the side effects.
My rule is to use the oldest drugs first, on the theory that now since the pharm companies are not doing long trials, older drugs have had a chance for their side effects to be known in users.
yep..that's right....WE are the trial population of the newer drugs, many of which are just slightly different than a previous drug, so they can be called new, and get higher prices.

Amitriptyline used to be real cheap, 90 days of 50 mg. tables for 10.00, but the prices went up to 50.00.

[CTyankee]

22. what is it?

[virgista]

4. I have short-term memory problems due to a chronic disease. Lyrica and gabapentin (related drugs)

made them much worse. These are dangerous drugs that are way over-prescribed. Mostly due to the cowardice of physicians to prescribe opiates. Good luck!

[CTyankee]

6. the neuro said opiods don't work on nerve pain.

[WhiteTara]

15. I had back surgery for crushed nerves

and I have to say that hydrocodone was the only thing that stopped my nerve pain. I keep it around for really bad days when I overdo and am in great pain again.

[CTyankee]

20. hydracodone was what had worked for me before. I tapered down on that after

surgery and there was no problem.

[WhiteTara]

21. I think it works very well.

I was very careful not to overdo with it and it still works well when I really need it.

[virgista]

16. I've heard that too.

But I think they may partially help. By generally quieting the stress response to pain. If you haven't already, you might try seeing a pain management specialist.

A new, little known, anti-depressant has been very helpful to me: Brintellix. It works on 7 different neural pathways: serotonin, neorepinephrine, glutamate and...duh... that damn memory loss, ha ha. You'd probably need to see a psychiatrist to get it. Don't you just hate going to alot of doctors?

[CTyankee]

31. my neuro would probably tell me he IS my pain management specialist.

my daughter in CA sees a pain management specialist but we don't have them specifically here. she has fibromyalgia and loves the lyrica...

[gwheezie]

9. Serotonin syndrome with cymbalta

I would be careful about any abrupt discontinuing of the SSRI but it might be the cymbalta that is causing some of the issues.

[Warpy]

11. Do NOT stop these drugs suddenly and without assistance!

One of the reasons you're having problems is getting your dosage jerked around.

Do NOT do those "natural remedies." The reason they're called woo by people who know what they're talking about is that they DO NOT WORK. If you do decide to try them, do NOT stop your drugs. You will become incredibly sick if you try to stop them suddenly.

Get in to see the doctor ASAP. This sounds like an emergency situation and if you fall at home again, it's ER time. You need help with this stuff and you're not going to get it from snake oil peddlers. You need real medical help at this point. They got you partially into this mess and you will need their help to get out of the worst of it.

I know your frustration, I've felt it a lot when I've been on ugly drugs like chemo, immunosuppressants, and others that are a lot worse than what you're on, all in an attempt to stay out of a wheelchair for a few more years. As miserable as I've been, it's worked and I'm still not in a wheelchair. Barely, some days, but not quite there.

It sounds like backing off the maximum dosage might be in the cards, staying on a stable dose for a few weeks. After that you can talk about starting to wean it down slowly.

This is what you're risking if you try to go cold turkey: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/serotonin-syndrome-causes-symptoms-treatments And that's just the Cymbalta.

[CTyankee]

14. my biggest fear is falling in the shower. I have safety bars and a shower seat and

a good strong no slip mat to stand on. My good friend passed out briefly in the shower when she was on a strong med. She was OK but that was scary.

I had no problem going off the percoset and it wasn't doing that much good anyway.

I don't think I have to see the doc right away. I need an adjustment of these meds. I had a very bad case of shingles and this has been going on since Nov. 4 when I felt the first blister on my neck. I'm still a little blotchy from the now gone blisters.

Funny thing, tho, and I wonder if it is related. I seem to have lost a good deal of my sense of taste and my appetite diminished. I've lost over 20 lbs but thankfully my appetite did come back and I am eating normally. I still can't taste much...I wonder if that is related....

[blm]

17. ((CTyankee))

Wishing you the best.

[HuckleB]

23. Definitely plan it with your MD.

Your MD might recommend stepping down from one first, as well. It looks like you plan to do that. Sorry to pile on.

[CTyankee]

24. OK, got my call back again and we're going for the option of taking these meds once

a day in the morning which is effectively cutting them in half. no afternoon dose. We'll do this for a week and see what happens...hope it works.

[HuckleB]

25. Good luck!

[CTyankee]

27. thanks. I'll need it...

[polly7]

26. I was just wondering about all the trouble with your Lyrica ........

it's come to be known as a very hard drug to get off of, so please taper off it gently. But ....... is it possible for you to get it divided into a different strength per dosage for now (until you taper off if you decide to) - say divided into taking it three times a day in smaller dosages?

Ack ...... sorry, I just saw your later post. I'm glad things worked out.

[CTyankee]

28. If this plan works out, I still reserve the right to refuse this med entirely and will tell

him so at my next appt. At this time, a glass of red wine before and with dinner help more than the drugs do...

[polly7]

29. I'm glad you've taken control of your own medications.

Many don't realize just how hard it can be to get it in the right dosage ... but please, seriously ... don't try to stop it all at once, no matter how ok you might feel for the first day without it.

I find a glass of red wine now and then beneficial, too. I just wish I was better at knowing the good ones. Best of luck to you!

[CTyankee]

30. thanks. when I see the doc next month I'll review my progress or lack thereof...