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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2007, at 20:54:33
I've google lyrica. From what I've seen it's for peripheral nerve pain from diabetes so can it at low doses be good for sleep? And at high doses give energy? It doesn't sound like cymbalta. And what class of meds is this in didn't see that either. Now I know of using meds for other things but this one I don't get at all could someone explain this? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by UGottaHaveHope on January 15, 2007, at 23:04:24
In reply to I Don't Get Lyrica, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2007, at 20:54:33
Regarding your above post way up there, I am AFRAID of Emsam, or really any new med. But I am MORE AFRAID of not trying it. Hope is what keeps us going. What if this is the one? Or what if it is not? Well, if it is not, then one more med to eliminate.
Yes, I do think we have a lot in common. I hope you find the courage to try Emsam. You are stronger than you think.
Posted by med_empowered on January 15, 2007, at 23:13:23
In reply to I Don't Get Lyrica, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2007, at 20:54:33
Lyrica is like super-Neurontin: it plays with gaba and may help anxiety and mood disorders. In the EU, its approved for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In the US, it isn't (but it is used off-label) and its a schedule V controlled substance.
Posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2007, at 23:18:08
In reply to Re: Phillipa, posted by UGottaHaveHope on January 15, 2007, at 23:04:24
Thanks Michael. Not off my list. Researching. Love Jan
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 15, 2007, at 23:46:28
In reply to I Don't Get Lyrica, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2007, at 20:54:33
If it is like super-Neurontin as med_empowered said, you may want to look into Gabitril as well.
In my experience Gabitril is a **very** potent GABA-reuptake inhibitor (SGRI)and has to be taken with caution - especially in combination with Neurontin. I take 8mg/day, in 2, 2, and 4mg doses spread out over the day.
I use it to prevent migraines, which it does very well. It is also supposed to treat GAD but it doesn't help me much there. I take Buspar for the GAD.
The upside is that even small doses of Gabitril noticeably enhance my cognitive function, memory, and motivation. Right now the latter effect is being masked by Lamictal, but I suspect that will change the next time I leave a heated message for my pdoc.
The downside is that even slightly larger doses like 12mg can cause symptoms of GABA toxicity, which have to be experienced to be believed. For me, they included very poor coordination, panic, and bizarre visual disturbances (constantly changing areas of blindness, and visual "trails" left behind by moving objects). However, this could be a complication of the combination with Neurontin, which I am taking at a dose of 1800 mg/day in three doses of 600 mg spread through the day.
The upside effects make Gabitril well worth taking for me. And NO migraines either!
BTW this is another indication that a migraine may be a type of seizure. Reduction in the frequency of seizures is really what one of the purposes of Gabitril is.
If the other stuff is creeping you out, check out Gabitril. At least it's been around and has a proven track record.
Good luck,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by yxibow on January 16, 2007, at 1:54:02
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 15, 2007, at 23:46:28
> If it is like super-Neurontin as med_empowered said, you may want to look into Gabitril as well.
>
> In my experience Gabitril is a **very** potent GABA-reuptake inhibitor (SGRI)and has to be taken with caution - especially in combination with Neurontin. I take 8mg/day, in 2, 2, and 4mg doses spread out over the day.
>
> I use it to prevent migraines, which it does very well. It is also supposed to treat GAD but it doesn't help me much there. I take Buspar for the GAD.
>
> The upside is that even small doses of Gabitril noticeably enhance my cognitive function, memory, and motivation. Right now the latter effect is being masked by Lamictal, but I suspect that will change the next time I leave a heated message for my pdoc.
>
> The downside is that even slightly larger doses like 12mg can cause symptoms of GABA toxicity, which have to be experienced to be believed. For me, they included very poor coordination, panic, and bizarre visual disturbances (constantly changing areas of blindness, and visual "trails" left behind by moving objects). However, this could be a complication of the combination with Neurontin, which I am taking at a dose of 1800 mg/day in three doses of 600 mg spread through the day.
>
> The upside effects make Gabitril well worth taking for me. And NO migraines either!
>
> BTW this is another indication that a migraine may be a type of seizure. Reduction in the frequency of seizures is really what one of the purposes of Gabitril is.
>
> If the other stuff is creeping you out, check out Gabitril. At least it's been around and has a proven track record.
>
> Good luck,
> Reggie BoStar
Though you'd think that Gabitril as an AED would reduce seizures, too much GABA action can also create seizures as well. Gabitril (tiagabine) carries a possibility of causing seizures in non-epileptic patients and should be treated cautiously.That's what the caution is for. Especially with other AEDs.
Lyrica is a calcium channel modulator of GABA and similar to Neurontin is a compound similar in structure to GABA which can cross the blood-brain barrier unlike GABA itself.
It was unclear of what schedule it was going to be, IV or V, or none, but it was classified as V because of a rather small chance of dependence. V in some states (not medications through FDA/DEA) is also a classification of ask-the-pharmacist medication, although that has diminished because of abuse (i.e. codeine with APAP.)
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 18, 2007, at 0:23:31
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » Reggie BoStar, posted by yxibow on January 16, 2007, at 1:54:02
Thanks for that info, yxibow.
I can well believe that too much GABA can cause seizures, based on those bizarre experiences I had with too much Gabitril.
Neurontin, on the other hand, has always been well-tolerated by me no matter what dose I took. If Lyrica is similar to Neurontin in its action, its probably pretty good stuff.
Thanks again,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by yxibow on January 18, 2007, at 3:31:50
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » yxibow, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 18, 2007, at 0:23:31
> Thanks for that info, yxibow.
>
> I can well believe that too much GABA can cause seizures, based on those bizarre experiences I had with too much Gabitril.
>
> Neurontin, on the other hand, has always been well-tolerated by me no matter what dose I took. If Lyrica is similar to Neurontin in its action, its probably pretty good stuff.
>
> Thanks again,
> Reggie BoStarNeurontin is pretty tolerable -- its a bit sedating when you first start it and you might slur your words a bit but beyond that it is sort of an adjunctive medication. Beyond around 900mg at at time and it just goes right down the loo, its sort of self-limiting.
Lyrica has some more side effects, it can blur vision, at least in around 10% of people, which unfortunately includes me. Otherwise, I suppose its fairly similar to Neurontin but it is newer and so caution is probably warranted over Neurontin.
-- tidings.
Posted by Crazy Horse on January 19, 2007, at 19:33:17
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » Reggie BoStar, posted by yxibow on January 18, 2007, at 3:31:50
It is much more powerful than neurontin. It mimics GABA. I took neurontin 1200 mgs. for about 6 mos., it did absolutely nothing for me. I have been on Lyrica 300 mgs. bid since august and it has been like a wonder drug for me, relieving both depression and anxiety and helping me to be more pro-social. I have noticed however (about the last couple of mos.) that the effect is not as strong as it once was. :( I believe i am building tolerance to it.
-Monte
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2007, at 20:00:39
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » yxibow, posted by Crazy Horse on January 19, 2007, at 19:33:17
No!!!!!!!!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on January 19, 2007, at 21:43:54
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » yxibow, posted by Crazy Horse on January 19, 2007, at 19:33:17
> It is much more powerful than neurontin. It mimics GABA. I took neurontin 1200 mgs. for about 6 mos., it did absolutely nothing for me. I have been on Lyrica 300 mgs. bid since august and it has been like a wonder drug for me, relieving both depression and anxiety and helping me to be more pro-social. I have noticed however (about the last couple of mos.) that the effect is not as strong as it once was. :( I believe i am building tolerance to it.
>
> -MontePerhaps that is why Lyrica was placed in Cat V. Or it could be similar to the tolerance to the sedation that eventually occurs with Neurontin. Today, it mostly supplements my benzodiazepine. By itself I don't think Neurontin is that potent, except during the first few weeks of use.
I wish Lyrica could have been better for me, but I value not having blurry vision, on top of a visual disorder :/
-- Jay
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2007, at 21:51:16
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » Crazy Horse, posted by yxibow on January 19, 2007, at 21:43:54
Lyrica gives you blurry vision? Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on January 20, 2007, at 3:12:39
In reply to Re: I Don't Get Lyrica » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2007, at 21:51:16
> Lyrica gives you blurry vision? Love Phillipa
Sure does -- not several days after I started taking a single 50mg (barely registerable) dose, I was in the gym and the usual crawlers at the bottom of the screen on CNN-H and the Closed Captioned were strangely blurry from where I usually ran on the treadmill. I did a Snellen Chart (the usual jumble of letters) at home and I was at 20/40. I am basically 20/20 to 20/30, depending on measurement error. As soon as we dropped the Lyrica, the blurriness went away.
Now I am on polypharmacy so the other medications could have magnified this, but indeed about 10% of patients in the prescribing information do develop some form of blurred vision. Whether this lasts, I don't know, but I didn't need Lyrica blurred vision, and then you add an anticholinergic and you get even blurrier.
It was disappointing because I waited for it to come out, the DEA was just boxing with the manufacturer to determine scheduling status, as far as I know for the delay, that was my theory anyhow.At C-V, it is a pretty innocuous medication as far as habituation but sensitive individuals could theoretically become habituated. In fact I've never seen a C-V medication come out today. They do exist on the shelves if you see large bottles in pharmacies with a {V on them, they're low dose codeine formulations with other substances added.
-- Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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