Lyrica and ic pain

**DonnaBee** · 01-04-2011, 04:52 PM

I also have fibromyalgia and rheumatologist is considering prescribing Lyrica to treat FM but I have also heard that it can cause IC flares. Is there anyone here using CYMBALTA instead, and with success?

**KatieB** · 01-04-2011, 06:33 PM

I just wanted to tell you that I spoke with a doctor who's now a teacher at a med school here in Dallas when I was trying to set up an appt with another doctor (ok, sorry, long winded). And he's a urogynocologist who used to treat IC before he started teaching. He actually told me to take Lyrica for this never-ending pain of the IC until I could get an appt. He said he prescribed it all the time when he was still treating IC. I still had some from a migraine trial, so I started taking it. It did help with my pain BUT then I remembered why I couldn't take it. It makes my vision crazy blurry and it makes me really dizzy and light headed, kinda drunk, only not fun.
I tried Cymbalta once for a very short period of time, again for the migraine. But I don't think it was a very fair trial. I was taking Lexapro at the time. And the neuro's PA told me to ~just quit the lexapro and start the cymbalta~ So I believe the whole time I was on it I was going thru lexapro withdrawal. If you could take them together I might give it another shot. That's too many SSRI's and it just doesn't work like that.
I think the lyrica I have here is 75mg but you can start lower like 50 or maybe even 25 just to see if it helps. You'll definitely get some sleep from it. For a little while at least.
I think they are probably both good drugs, it may just depend on what your system can handle and you're already taking and antidepressant (SSRI type).
Good luck and try them both if you need to then you can know for sure.

**KarenAnne** · 01-06-2011, 01:16 PM

I remember someone taking Lyrica & having great success for their IC pain. Check the old posts....it may have been leelee. I'm not sure who it is. Sorry.

**Briza** · 01-06-2011, 03:19 PM

Hi Donna
I've rarely heard of Cymbalta actually working for pain in the years I've been on this board. It might be an effective antidepressant but there should be much better treatment options for your pain other than this med.

I believe it is leelee who has had luck with Lyrica for her pain. I'm sure any med could cause a person IC flares, but I don't recall Lyrica having a big reputation for that.

Good luck, Donna. I hope you find some relief soon.

**Claire_A** · 08-08-2011, 07:22 PM

for me, Lyrica made everything worse. I was on it for 2 months, for vv. My neurologist told me to beware as Lyrica would make the IC worse. I ignored his advice and went with my vv specialists recomendation.

Bad idea. Urethra, bladder, clitoral pain. Within 2 days of coming off this med everything subsideded. Now the pain is not daily, and the clitoral pain is only provoked.

Eveyrone is different though.

Claire

**mary124** · 08-09-2011, 09:49 AM

I have been on cymbalta and neuroton for about 2 months, I am doing pretty good with the pain level. I am not saying that I don't have pain, but its on the low side of the scale. I don't take any pain medication for it now.