Lyrica for CIPN

peony
peony Member Posts: 306 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

I started taking Lyrica a couple of months ago to help me cope with Chemo Induced Peripheral Neurapathy. I was way beyond tingling in my fingertips. The palms of my hands and fingertips were constantly stinging and burning, my feet were numb and my sense of balance was all askew. At night the pain would increase and sometimes interfere with my sleep.  When I started taking it, I knew my hands were already improving, but it was recommended for my feet. I had a problem with my right foot and I guess the podiatrist was trying to element any source of pain that he could.  Well, I had to stop taking Lyrica. I now totally understand why people who are bi-polar don't want to take their medications.  Lyrica made me feel like a a part of me was tamped down, or deadened. My thought processes were worse than chemo-brain. I asked one of my co-workers for a slice of paper! Someone told me that I seemed down or depressed when the opposite was true; I was glad to be out of treatment. But I knew that my demeanor was slow and depressed due to the Lyrica.  So I weaned myself off of it.  The CIPN is still there. Not as pervasive in my hands as before; not painful at all. Just numbess with a feeling that there's something gritty under my skin. My feet are painfree, but also still numb. My balance is better. I feel more alert and have lost that muffled feeling.  So, did the Lyrica help me? I'm not sure. I may have reached this point of recovery without it. I just didn't think the side effects of that particular drug were worth the cure.

Comments

  • Iris_G
    Iris_G Member Posts: 50 Member
    #2
    Radiation & Neuropathy

    Hi peony...I had neuropathy in the last 3 toes on each of my feet during chemo.  They went back to normal after I finished my last round in February.  My neuropathy problems now are fierce and it's hit me from right under my breast line down to my knees!  I feel like I'm constantly being stuck with pins/needles most of the day.  It gets worse if there's a drastic change to my body temperature, which is really going to be a pain since we're heading to cooler weather!  I talked to a neurologist who seems to think mine was brought on by my radiation.  He believes the radiation hit my spine and damaged/inflamed the nerves that come around from my spine to my abdomen and lower.  He said I should probably take Lyrica or Gabapentin and to also have my Vitamin B levels checked.  I asked him if it would ever go away, and he could make no promises.  He said he could just treat the symptoms and hope for the best!  I'll try Lyrica for a while, but if it does to me what it seems to have done to you, I'll definitely quit taking it! 

  • Teach76
    Teach76 Member Posts: 351 Member
    edited October 2016 #3
    On the fence, too

    I just spoke to the PA in my oncology office about CIPN Last week.  I finished treatment in July, and I have had a terrible time.  I also am still experiencing fatigue - told it will go away in time, but it was embarrassing to fall asleep in the drive thru last week!  PA said Lyrica might help with the CIPN, but one major side effect is more fatigue.  Since I teach all day ( not sure I should have gone back so soon), I really don't want to take anything more with side effects.

    just another chapter in the saga . . .

     

    Kathy

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