Special Case (w/response)

[Guest guest]

<<Hi,

To give you some background I have been diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis

sense 7/08. I have been in and out of the hospital a lot related to this

illness. This last July I went back into the hospital for a surgery to control

the Bile Reflux My MD had diagnosed as a side effect of Gallbladder surgery.

Unfortunately the surgery triggered a pancreatic attack and I had to stay in the

hospital until I was strong enough to have J-Tube placed as the only way I could

take in nutrition. When I have a pancreatic attack it causes extreme nausea.

While in the hospital I was put on Lyrica to help with the nausea, which is

little used off label use for this drug. I am now out of the hospital but remain

on Lyrica. I also remain on the J-Tube feeding and am still unable to eat.

I have recently tried to tapper off Lyrica which I am on at 150mg daily. I went

from the 150mg directly down to 100mg. I was doing fine no major withdrawal

symptoms for about week and 1/2  when I woke up last Friday morning with nausea.

I contacted my MD and he recommends that I go back to 150mg and then alternate

with 100mg for about 2 weeks and then hold at 100mg and see what happens. In the

vast experience of this group what have others experienced that might be

helpful. My goal is to get off this drug completely. I also take Ativan about 2

to 3 mg daily for anxiety and sleep

Thanks for your help,

Free Horse 55>>

** It's a really bad idea to do this as the doctor suggested. That merely

yanks your system all over the place not allowing to to ever become stable.

You shouldn't have too much difficulty getting off this if it is the 1st

time you've ever been on anything of this nature other than Ativan. If I am

wrong about this please let me know. Your success is predicated on me having the

proper information.

Drop your dose by 10% (from 150 mg to 135 mg.). You can dissolve the pill

in 10 oz of liquid and drink 9 oz. This will give you a 10% reduction.

Now, you already know it takes a while for your body to react to losing some

of the drug so wait up to 3 weeks and see if you have any reaction at all. If

you don't, go ahead and do another 10% decrease.

If you DO have some reaction it should be mild. But, wait it out. The rule

of thumb here is to never do a next decrease until you feel as well or better

than you felt prior to the decrease.

If your reaction is more than mild let me know right away and we will address

it.

If there is any other info you can think of that I should have, please let me

know. Any other health conditions? Any other pharmaceutical drugs?

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for your reply. I of course failed to mention that it is hard for me to drink any fluids due to the fact that I still have some kind of reflux which causes me quite a bit of trouble. I take extra fluid through my J-tube which goes directly into my intestine. I'm also still having nausea, hot sweats,and some anxiety even though I have returned to the original 150mg of Lyrica starting last Monday. I had been on Prozac for about 20 years but have been off of it for about 2 years. I was on 20mg every other day and kept forgetting to take it so I naturally over time took myself off of it without any problems. I also tried Paxil for about 2months maybe 20 years ago. Recently my MD tried me on Remeron and Celexa but I tried them for each a day or 2 and stopped due to side effects. He wants me to try Lexapro but I have refused so far. My MD is very supportive of what I feel my body can tolerate. I weigh only about 104 and am very

reactive to most medications.

At different times during this last year and 1/2 I have been on the following meds at different times

Reglan 5mg 3xday before meals( when I was still eating) for about 2 months can cause anxiety for me if I take more. No problems when I stopped

Zophran for nausea PRN no side effects

Merenol 5mg for nausea and appetite for about 3 months was sleepy at first but adjusted no problems when stopped

Phenagren 25mg PRN for nausea

I hope this gives a clearer picture

Thanks Gail

To: Withdrawal_and_Recovery Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 12:08:41 PMSubject: Special Case (w/response)d

<<Hi,To give you some background I have been diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis sense 7/08. I have been in and out of the hospital a lot related to this illness. This last July I went back into the hospital for a surgery to control the Bile Reflux My MD had diagnosed as a side effect of Gallbladder surgery.Unfortunately the surgery triggered a pancreatic attack and I had to stay in the hospital until I was strong enough to have J-Tube placed as the only way I could take in nutrition. When I have a pancreatic attack it causes extreme nausea. While in the hospital I was put on Lyrica to help with the nausea, which is little used off label use for this drug. I am now out of the hospital but remain on Lyrica. I also remain on the J-Tube feeding and am still unable to eat.I have recently tried to tapper off Lyrica which I am on at 150mg daily. I went from the 150mg directly down to 100mg. I was doing fine no major withdrawal

symptoms for about week and 1/2 when I woke up last Friday morning with nausea. I contacted my MD and he recommends that I go back to 150mg and then alternate with 100mg for about 2 weeks and then hold at 100mg and see what happens. In the vast experience of this group what have others experienced that might be helpful. My goal is to get off this drug completely. I also take Ativan about 2 to 3 mg daily for anxiety and sleepThanks for your help,Free Horse 55>>** It's a really bad idea to do this as the doctor suggested. That merely yanks your system all over the place not allowing to to ever become stable.You shouldn't have too much difficulty getting off this if it is the 1st time you've ever been on anything of this nature other than Ativan. If I am wrong about this please let me know. Your success is predicated on me having the proper information.Drop your dose by 10% (from 150 mg to 135 mg.). You

can dissolve the pill in 10 oz of liquid and drink 9 oz. This will give you a 10% reduction. Now, you already know it takes a while for your body to react to losing some of the drug so wait up to 3 weeks and see if you have any reaction at all. If you don't, go ahead and do another 10% decrease. If you DO have some reaction it should be mild. But, wait it out. The rule of thumb here is to never do a next decrease until you feel as well or better than you felt prior to the decrease. If your reaction is more than mild let me know right away and we will address it.If there is any other info you can think of that I should have, please let me know. Any other health conditions? Any other pharmaceutical drugs?Regards,