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Suggest Treatment For Muscle Fatigue Caused By Lyrica Withdrawal
Question: Hi, I am a female and I took Lyrica for nerve pain for 1 month which eventually helped and the pain hugely subsided. I have now been off Lyrica for just over one month but it has left me with chronic autoimmune disease / chronic muscle fatigue / Myasthenia Gravis. I am a very active person and love to ride my mountain bike but now my muscles are so sore and tired I'm not able to push the pedals. The Lyrica is obviously still in my system as I still have very minimal nerve pain but wondering if/when the nerve pain comes back will my nerves start producing the acetylcholine that my muscles need to function again and if so how long will this likely take to happen? It would be great to have some helpful advice as it's getting rather depressing! I would rather go back to just having the nerve pain as I was able to keep the pain semi at bay with accupuncture and at least my muscle function was normal.
Thank you
Kind Regards XXXXXXX
New Zealand
Thank you
Kind Regards XXXXXXX
New Zealand
Brief Answer:
Certainly you'll be better.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns. Lyrica withdrawal symptoms generally start to subside within first week after discontinuation.In a number of patients symptoms need few months to subside and this depends on time Lyrica been used, dosage and if was tapering or sudden stop. Is a good thing to know that symptoms will subside one day soon, your nerves will start to function normally again. I recommend you to stay positive and have a active life. Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Certainly you'll be better.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns. Lyrica withdrawal symptoms generally start to subside within first week after discontinuation.In a number of patients symptoms need few months to subside and this depends on time Lyrica been used, dosage and if was tapering or sudden stop. Is a good thing to know that symptoms will subside one day soon, your nerves will start to function normally again. I recommend you to stay positive and have a active life. Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you for your reply.
When you say the symptons will "subside" and that I will "start to function normally", do you have any idea on time frames. I understand that you can probably not give me a definitive answer but any idea would really be appreciated. My dosage was 150 mg 3 times a day for three weeks and then I tappered down over two final weeks. And will it be a full recovery or have some people sustained lasting efffects?
I also have a question about the nerve pain that started me down this road with the Lyrica.
Several years ago I got glandular fever and shingles, this hit me hard. I had never previously suffered any illnesses and very rarely had colds or flus. After these two major illnesses, I started to get head aches that started at the base of my skull at the top of my spine that ratiated into my head and down the spine. Over several years these progressed to nerve pain in my hands and arms (mainly the right) and the ocassional bolt across the left side of my neck steming from below the ear to the clavicle like a hot poker. My hands suffer from constant aches, have pins and needles and are sensitive to cold. The head aches at times have been debilitating and I never got them before my illnesses.
I also developed Neuralgia about 18 months ago that lasted for about 3 months. I saw a specialist concerning this and also had MRI and Xray scans of my head and neck. They were all clear.
Are there any conditions that you feel I should research and be tested for. I have recently researched thorciac outlet syndrome as many of my symptons seem to fit this condition. One of the first times I had tingling in my hands I was tested for Carpal Tunnel, this was also clear. But I have read that the impingement can be in the clavicle area and show the same symptons in the hands.
Can Thorcaic Outlet Syndrome manifest itself or start by pain at the top of the spine, like my first symptons, or are there other conditions I should ask my Doctor about.
Unfortunately I reside in a rural town (400 population) and the closest Hospital is over an hour travelling, so it is hard without guidance to get direct tests and scans. That is why I am hoping you are able to help.
Thank you for your time. XXXXXXX
When you say the symptons will "subside" and that I will "start to function normally", do you have any idea on time frames. I understand that you can probably not give me a definitive answer but any idea would really be appreciated. My dosage was 150 mg 3 times a day for three weeks and then I tappered down over two final weeks. And will it be a full recovery or have some people sustained lasting efffects?
I also have a question about the nerve pain that started me down this road with the Lyrica.
Several years ago I got glandular fever and shingles, this hit me hard. I had never previously suffered any illnesses and very rarely had colds or flus. After these two major illnesses, I started to get head aches that started at the base of my skull at the top of my spine that ratiated into my head and down the spine. Over several years these progressed to nerve pain in my hands and arms (mainly the right) and the ocassional bolt across the left side of my neck steming from below the ear to the clavicle like a hot poker. My hands suffer from constant aches, have pins and needles and are sensitive to cold. The head aches at times have been debilitating and I never got them before my illnesses.
I also developed Neuralgia about 18 months ago that lasted for about 3 months. I saw a specialist concerning this and also had MRI and Xray scans of my head and neck. They were all clear.
Are there any conditions that you feel I should research and be tested for. I have recently researched thorciac outlet syndrome as many of my symptons seem to fit this condition. One of the first times I had tingling in my hands I was tested for Carpal Tunnel, this was also clear. But I have read that the impingement can be in the clavicle area and show the same symptons in the hands.
Can Thorcaic Outlet Syndrome manifest itself or start by pain at the top of the spine, like my first symptons, or are there other conditions I should ask my Doctor about.
Unfortunately I reside in a rural town (400 population) and the closest Hospital is over an hour travelling, so it is hard without guidance to get direct tests and scans. That is why I am hoping you are able to help.
Thank you for your time. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Symptoms usually subside by 6 months.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX
Like I said before withdrawal symptoms of Lyrica should subside from few weeks to few months ( usually 6 months).
Permanent damages from Lyrica usually happens in a low number of patients using it for a long time ( years).
Thoracic outlet syndrome usually gives symptoms in one side of the body, but rare cases of bilateral disease may happen,so this condition could not be excluded completely.
About your neuropathy I suggest you to discuss with your treating doctor possibility of nerve conduction (EMG) study of both arms, blood work for Diabetes, Pyridoxine deficiency, heavy metals toxicity etc. Hope this helps. If you have further questions feel free to ask.
Symptoms usually subside by 6 months.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX
Like I said before withdrawal symptoms of Lyrica should subside from few weeks to few months ( usually 6 months).
Permanent damages from Lyrica usually happens in a low number of patients using it for a long time ( years).
Thoracic outlet syndrome usually gives symptoms in one side of the body, but rare cases of bilateral disease may happen,so this condition could not be excluded completely.
About your neuropathy I suggest you to discuss with your treating doctor possibility of nerve conduction (EMG) study of both arms, blood work for Diabetes, Pyridoxine deficiency, heavy metals toxicity etc. Hope this helps. If you have further questions feel free to ask.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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