Lyrica, Cymbalta or Savella? - Interstitial Cystitis (ICN) Support Forum

Charisse · 08-20-2009, 11:22 AM

I had an appt with my rheumatologist today. He treats me for my Fibromyalgia but takes my IC and pelvic pain into the picture as well. I told him my fibro is actually doing fantastic minus the pelvic pain. He is suggesting I try either Lyrica, Cymbalta or Savella. From what little research I've done it appears Lyrica might be the most promising out of the 3 only because I have not tolerated any antidepressants in the past and Cymbalta and Savella are closer to ADs than Lyrica is. Right now I am breastfeeding so we are not going to start anything until I wean but I was hoping to hear back from some of you that are currently taking Lyrica. I have read through some of the threads here and see it is working well for some of you. My concern is will I tolerate it without yucky side effects (ADs all make me nauseated or dizzy) and will I gain weight with it? I'm still 10 lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight and I really don't need anything that's going to make me heavier. Also does Lyrica make any of you sleepy?

gatorgal · 08-20-2009, 03:17 PM

Hi leah,

The lyrica is the medication that has reduced my IC pain the most. Cymbalta reduced my PFD (pinches my pudendal)pain the most but had to stop taking because it irritated my bladder during major IC flares. For a year I was on a cymbalta/lyrica combo. Hope that helps.

Charisse · 08-20-2009, 04:50 PM

Thank you for responding. That's interesting that Cymbalta helped your PFD more. I am guessing I have PFD as well but have never been given an official diagnosis. I see you have the interstim as well and that it helps you with pain?? The last uro I met with discussed the interstim as a possibility but from what I've researched it doesn't help most with the pain. I don't have as much frequency as I do pain.

gatorgal · 08-27-2009, 02:53 AM

Ironically the interstim helps me a lot with my pain, but does nothing for my frequency during a flare. I just went through a four month intractable flare, had my interstim reprogrammed, and my pain was reduced and was able to tolerate more foods. The rep set it on 4 different programs . Also the first 8 months(2007) I had the implant I had no IC symptoms-then I got a flare. Once my bladder becomes resistant to one program I either increase the strength or change it to a different program.But , I never got back to that symptom free first 8 months.
I do believe a lot of my IC comes from pudendal irritation, I barely had any glomerations.
We are all so different how we react to different procedures or meds.
Lyrica did cause a gain in weight when I went up to 150 mg, not as much now at 75 mg. It does make me hungrier. I started on the lowest dose, it took a week for me to adjust to each dose as I would increase it. Most of the drowsiness went away after my body adjusted to it.

Snuph · 08-29-2009, 12:40 PM

HI
I started lyrica last night. I also have fibro and take 20 mg of amitrip. I also have an interstim but the battery is done and I do not have the money to replace it. I woke up twice during the night totally excited not to be in pain. I fact, I was not in any pain for about 12 hours. This afternoon I have been feeling awful. I am really tired, my fibro is acting up worse than it has for months and the bladder pain is back. I am not sure what that all means but I am hoping for the best still.