Lyrica and Body Weight.

[freebird]

I have been on Lyrica for 0ver 4 years. I currently take 180 mg 3x a day. I was highly concerned about reading where Lyrica can cause weight gain....

I have lost 68+ lbs since March 7, 2010 taking 180 mg Lyrica 3x a day, 25 mcg/hr Fentanyl patch I change every 2 days, 4-5 Lortabs 10/500 a day, and 5 mg of Ambien at night.

Taking Lyrica and narcotics is not a automatic ticket for weight gain. Most weight gain for IW's is due to inactivity, stress AND OVEREATING as a Hobby.

You want to lose weight while on PM? Answer is Diet and Exercise and believe in yourself.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

FreeBird, that is so very true, and I agree. I have seen my Brother-in-Law gain weight beyond what anyone would ever think. Went from a size 44 waist to a 56. Taking Lyrica, because it made him lazy, made him want to sleep all the time. Why, because he doesn't care enough about himself. ow, that is all he wants to do is lay around and get fatter. Everyone has told him, even the doctor's that he needs to move, get moving, and start losing weight. But not him, he will lay around now till he just dies. Sad thing to say, but that is his feelings. Even his Physc doc told him to get moving. Sent him to PT, and he doesn't go.

[freebird]

Whats sad is the Meds become a excuse to becoming obese where the real problem is Inactivity, excuses, Ice Cream and potato chips. I know because I did this!

I feel better because I have lost a big sack of Dog food I was toting around which complemented my chronic pain.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

very correct, I am normly 230, went up a lot too me, after the knee replacement. I could tell the difference in pain levels also from the gain. I took control, am down to 246, and still going. I am trying to loose a few here a few there, taking it slow, so to stop a rebound affect. So far it is working for me.

As for my brother-in-law, he is a lost cause. For over a year, as a family we tried everything. As so did his doctor's. In fact he has had 2 doctor's let him go, as they said, if he won't do as he is being told to do, he doesn't need to return to their office.

And yep, Ice cream, coffee cakes, donuts all come first for him, even a loaf of bread he will eat. Never will he eat anything that is good for the body. he is turning into a pile of mush. I say he is over 300 pounds, but I feel he tries to hide it and lie and say he is 286. I said 14 pounds isn't much different for a short fella.

[inpainokla]

freebird Wrote:I have been on Lyrica for 0ver 4 years. I currently take 180 mg 3x a day. I was highly concerned about reading where Lyrica can cause weight gain....

I have lost 68+ lbs since March 7, 2010 taking 180 mg Lyrica 3x a day, 25 mcg/hr Fentanyl patch I change every 2 days, 4-5 Lortabs 10/500 a day, and 5 mg of Ambien at night.

Taking Lyrica and narcotics is not a automatic ticket for weight gain. Most weight gain for IW's is due to inactivity, stress AND OVEREATING as a Hobby.

You want to lose weight while on PM? Answer is Diet and Exercise and believe in yourself.

hey freebird i was just started on the fentynyl patch last week 75mcg to change every 3 days but i seem to be geting no releif from them does it take alot of time to buid up in your system and how do they work for you?

[red1030]

freebird... I really appreciate what you are saying, however, there are medications that do lower a person's metabolism, increases their appetite and so forth which will reguire changes from your normal routine of calorie intake and execise. If people do not make those needed changes then they will gain weight. Some of those medications are steriods, ambilify, certain SSDI's, Neurontin etc. I do agree that the only way to loose weight is through decreasing calories and increasing exercize.. what certain medications do is just add obstacles to maintaining or loosing weight.

[red1030]

Here is a thread about what can enhance weight loss or gain.

http://www.keepitoff.com/docs/medication...t_gain.pdf

[freebird]

red1030 Wrote:freebird... I really appreciate what you are saying, however, there are medications that do lower a person's metabolism, increases their appetite and so forth which will reguire changes from your normal routine of calorie intake and execise. If people do not make those needed changes then they will gain weight. Some of those medications are steriods, ambilify, certain SSDI's, Neurontin etc. I do agree that the only way to loose weight is through decreasing calories and increasing exercize.. what certain medications do is just add obstacles to maintaining or loosing weight.

I agree BUT many Individual's blame there Meds and continue toward 300+ lbs.
My point is I made "the change" and gaining weight is a choice. MANY IW's have back issues and weight gain enhances the pain. I know this from my personal experience.
Being obese is a choice. Continuing to Blame Meds for continued weight gain is a choice.

I feel better about myself and my weight loss is great for permanent help with my chronic back pain.

When one feels good about themselves, they are better off in life in general. Being Obese is a major problem in the United States.

[chrischris]

When I stopped taking the Lyrica, I immediately, like overnight, dropped 10 lbs. That was a good incentive to keep going and I've had to work very hard at increasing activity and watching calories. It's very very hard when you have been inactive for so long.

Someone of my doctors recently told me that it all boils down to a body has to burn more calories than it takes in. They way to truly lose weight!

[freebird]

chrischris Wrote:When I stopped taking the Lyrica, I immediately, like overnight, dropped 10 lbs. That was a good incentive to keep going and I've had to work very hard at increasing activity and watching calories. It's very very hard when you have been inactive for so long.

Someone of my doctors recently told me that it all boils down to a body has to burn more calories than it takes in. They way to truly lose weight!

My injury dates back to 2003. Inactivity is a killer. I try hard to exercise but some day's .....

Weight loss is not easy. Keeping it off is another obstacle also. Cutting back and proper eating is my weight loss plan. Weight Watchers online.