So, in part one you saw the first "phase" of my journey with Fibromyalgia medications. Now, we're moving to the "second" phase.
The Duragesic patches mentioned in part 1, the synthetic morphine, were not working that well and my pain clinic doctor said it was time for a change.
Do you like change? I don't. If you do, you're part of a very small group. Although we all know that change is necessary, we don't like the unfamiliar, the unknown and the new, even though it may be beneficial to us. Many of us, like myself, fear change. But it's necessary and it NEVER stops coming at us, even on a daily basis.
So, I nodded in compliance with him and he began me on a medication called Avinza. Now, instead of the patch, I was taking a "sustained released"...or "controlled release" oral form of morphine. He said he was going to start me out on the "low" side of the medication to see how I would feel.
Well, the first two weeks, were a game of trying to adjust to this new medication. As he suspected, the initial dosage was too low and we had to increase it.
Finally, after he made the last adjustment, I started to feel better. I felt better almost immediately. Within a day, I was actually feeling better than ever.
About a year later, I remember complaining to the doctor about more leg and foot pain. He decided to try me on Lyrica. He stated that this was another "anti-seizure" medication, like Neurontin, but that it was also used for "peripheral neuropathy" aka diabetic foot pain, etc.
I tried it. Now, this was about 4 years before you and I saw our first commercial about Lyrica. (Again, this is the benefit of living in a large Metro area, because you'll find doctors who are a bit more progressive and trained on the newest medications and techniques.)By the time those commercials came out, I wanted to have a party! I thought, HEY, they finally are "talking" about Fibro on TV!! Validation is huge for us, isn't it? This invisible disease makes us doubt ourselves every single day!
However, I have to say, I was only on Lyrica for about 4 months. I gained about 30-40 lbs. Beyond the wait gain, I was feeling quite dizzy most of the time. As a matter of fact, I advise anyone starting this medication to be very careful driving until you know how you'll react to this medication. I have since read the warnings about Lyrica and the statement about "feeling high" is very accurate. This is NOT a good feeling particularly if you are driving. I had to pull over several times while on a very busy "parkway"/highway where there were no "shoulders" because of this dizzy/"high" feeling.
Now, let me say that some people have a HUGE amount of success with Lyrica. I did not. That's me. It may not be YOU, so if given the opportunity, try it. Don't be afraid, just be aware of what might happen...the dizziness being the biggest concern. Just take it easy if you can over the first few days.
FINALLY, and this is VERY IMPORTANT, if you are on Lyrica and decide to go off, please take my advice (and this was NOT my doctor's advice for me, being a guinea pig of sorts to the med), go off of it gradually, over say, a week or two. My doctor told me to "stop" it and I was sick in bed with withdrawal symptoms for several days.
At this time, he decided to change my antidepressant. I had been on Prozac for several years and he wanted to wean me off and put me on Cymbalta. Again, this was years before you saw the commercials and I was now, for good reason - as stated about with Lyrica, nervous and apprehensive.
However, he said that it was working well for many patients and that I should try it. At this point, my ideal situation was to stay on the same amount of morphine but to get rid of the need for "breakthrough medications" in the form of Percocet 10/325. This is a very strong version of Oxycodone and can make you very tired, groggy and, for me, it was not enjoyable as some people would imagine.
The good thing about the Avinza was that because it was a "sustained release", I never got that "high" and then the "crash" (needing to sleep). I just felt NO PAIN!!
So, back to Cymbalta. I'm still on it, 120 mgs. (60 mgs. in the morning and 60 mgs. at night a couple hours before bed). As time went on, I noticed I was taking less of the Percocet. It took about a month before that happened but it was worth the wait. I WILL add that in adjusting to Cymbalta (which is actually an anti-depressant), I did have a week of feeling pretty nauseous. I didn't actually "get sick to my stomach", but I didn't feel like eating much. Getting through this was also worthwhile for me. Not easy, but worthwhile.
Before I finish this section, as you can imagine, being on these meds that make one drowsy was not fun. So, my Rheumatologist prescribed Provigil (an anti-narcoleptic) for the "sleepiness" caused by these medications. Although he prescribed 100 mgs., I found that it worked better at 200 mgs.
So, aside from the Lyrica, which I stopped, I now was now on the following for my Fibro:
- Avinza 300 mgs in the morning (I worked up to that amount over about 7 years)
- Cymbalta - 60 mgs.- 2X per day
- Klonipin - 1/2 a mg. 2X per day
- Provigil - 200 mgs. in the morning
I also went off of the Nexium (mentioned in Part 1) after a while because I was getting headaches almost on a daily basis and as soon as I stopped it, the headaches stopped. However, my "GERD" from the Neurontin (also described in Part 1), never returned.
SO, that is Part 2 of my story about medication I've taken for my Fibro.
Believe it or not, there IS a Part 3. Stay tuned until tomorrow (if I can get to it)for those details.
If you live in the US, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!! If not, Happy Wednesday!! : )
Blessings.......
Mo M.
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