I have nerve pain and my Dr. just prescribed Lyrica. I was wondering how long is it before I will notice any relief from the pain?
How long does it take for Lyrica to take effect for nerve pain?
Question posted by sharonleipfert on 5 May 2010
Last updated on 25 January 2022 by Kdsw1963
This question has also been asked and answered here: How long does it take for Lyrica to work?
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21 Answers
Kdsw1963
25 Jan 2022
I didn't gain weight but lyrica made it so I could get out of bed. The nerve pain from fibromyalgia was and still is horrible. I actually paid $500 for it because my insurance Co won't pay for it and I can't use the genetic kind. Pregabalin
mitchell1273
23 Sep 2020
I have facet syndrome which is incredible nerve pain in my neck and have been on pain meds forever and I tried Lyrica a few years ago and I didn't like the side effects and stopped taking it. Recently I started Lyrica again, 75 mg twice a day and really didn't feel anything until about two weeks later when I really started taking it seriously and added it a third time a day. I seem to get relief for 5 to 6 hours at a time which is what most websites say. I am still on pain meds and the Lyrica actually gives the pain meds a little bit of a boost. I do feel some side effects like dizziness and dry mouth other than that it has completely taken away my neck pain. I feel a tightness where the pain was but the pain is about 95% gone. It also relieves my hip pain foot pain arthritis pain in my hands and other issues I suffer from which are mostly related to arthritis. Been a couple of days now I am a believer in Lyrica.
I am not one who easily believes in these kinds of drugs but it works much better than the pain meds. I'm hoping I cannot get off the pain meds by substituting Lyrica instead.. I hope this was helpful who anybody considering Lyrica.
Dangelis2302
8 Aug 2020
I went to emergency as the I had unbearable leg and back pain and my legs kept giving way and I’d fall. After a CT scan I was diagnosed with a bulging disc, pinched nerve and arthritis is my back and prescribed Lyrica last night. After my first dose I felt immediate relief and had the best sleep I’ve had in months! Today no pain, but I still feel my legs are wobbly and weak so need to be careful as the lack of nerve pain can make me forget the problem is still there! I was telling my sister, a nurse, and she told me it normally takes weeks to be effective and I was shocked so looked it up. Apparently I’m one of the lucky few that get immediate relief! I personally think it’s amazing and hope the benefits continue and it’s not just a fluke!
Kk78
13 March 2020
I have noticed that some of the responses here discussing taking opioids for fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia pain is neural and IS NOT responsive to opioids. Yes, it may help you sleep, and of course with other types of pain, but not neural pain.
I have fibromyalgia plus a host of other mental disorders. I was prescribed Cymbalta, Duloxetine, and other SSI's and SSNRI's with no positive effects. One MAJOR common affect possible side of all SSRI's and SSRI's is in ability (difficulty) to achieve orgasm. I refused to take them because the side effect (which I noticed early on in mental treatment) happened within 3 or 4 days. After a year and a half of trying EVERYTHING and finding out my sediment levels were normal and therefore my pain was not inflammatory, I was prescribed Lyrica. I take 75mgs 3xs a day. I've been on it for 3 or 4 months. I finally have some relief. I know it doesn't work for a lot of people, but doesn't discount it.
Everyone symptoms work differently. Finding the right cocktail for complicated illnesses is always difficult. Good luck to you all.
badboyz8
26 Sep 2019
Hello all I was giving occipital nerve block and put on Gabapentin for cervical neck pain have degenerated disc and suffer headaches from spasms and pain. Gabapentin made me feel lightheaded and dizzy and my balance was off 300mg 1 time a day at night. I stop taking it after a week in a half as I had a PE and was afraid I might fall and get hurt while on Xarelto. Have headaches agin after having nerve block 2 weeks ago thinking of getting another block and maybe taking Lyrica. Thoughts on this
cindy-59
27 Sep 2019
Hi badboyz8. I have not taken Gabapentin but I have taken Lyrica and Cymbalta. I have talked to many people who have taken Gabapentin and most of them have told me that their experience is a lot like Lyrica and Cymbalta. For me Cymbalta had the most horrible side effects and I am tapering off it now. I’m down to less than 1 mg (4 beads). I’m completely tapered off Lyrica. There are support groups for each of these medications. The Cymbalta support group has over 21,000 people from all over the world getting help to taper off slowly and safely. Personally I will never take another medication like these again and I can not advise anyone else to take them. They stole over 10 years from me. The side effects caused me to be bedridden for 3 years. I had no life. I was only existing. Now that I’m completely off Lyrica and almost tapered off Cymbalta I have a life again. I own my own car and I’m driving again. My energy and motivation is back. I have emotions again.
I’m spending as much time as possible making up for the years I missed with my children and grandchildren. I hope and pray that I’m completely off Cymbalta before 2020. I can’t wait! Take care. Cindy
uziboy
20 April 2019
I'm sure you're right. I noticed something within the first hour. Very expensive, but a wonder drug. Generic is supposed to be out by June 2019, so the cost is sure to decrease dramatically!
Craftychick
20 April 2019
I was diagnosed yesterday with PSH, and put on 100 mg bid. After just the first two doses that same day, I was able to sleep through the night for the first time in years. There's no way this could be a coincidence; I'm totally amazed!
uziboy
20 April 2019
I'm sure you're right. I noticed something within the first hour. Very expensive, but a wonder drug. Generic is supposed to be out by June 2019, so the cost is sure to decrease dramatically!
uziboy
20 April 2019
Sorry, I guess I accidentally "double replied"...
momlilburn
31 March 2019
I started on Lyrica last week for nerve pain and Fibromyalgia. On day 2 I realized my pain was gone. I was so stunned I didn't know what to think. From what I've read if it's going to work the patient should notice some relief within the 1st 3 weeks.
Elizabeth walll
4 Sep 2018
I have been taking them for a month my GP has been increasing them gradually I am now taking 50mg in the morn and same at night
There has been no significant improvement in my Fibro but early days .
Sharon2631
14 Dec 2018
I have been taking it for a week now for a cervical nerve issue due to herniated disc in my neck along with a bone spur. So far it has done absolutely nothing to help my pain. When you are in as much pain as I have been you want almost immediate relief and this is doing nothing.
cindy-59
30 July 2018
I was taking Lyrica for 7-8 years and I've been taking Cymbalta for 8-9 years. I am slowly tapering off Cymbalta now. Neither medication helped me at all. They took many years away from me. I had almost every side effect that's on the list and some that are not even on the list. I was always a small person; even after having 5 children; but while being on these drugs I went from 110-120 pounds to over 200 pounds. I looked and felt like I was 7 months pregnant. I had a lot of water weight and my body was swollen very bad. I was constipated and I had a hard time to urinate. I lost a lot of my hair. I was losing my eyesight and my hearing. I no longer have my perfect teeth. They now have many cavities and I have had a tooth break in half and a tooth break off at the gum line. My gums are still swollen. I wasn't depressed or anxious when I started taking these meds; but they caused me to experience both. I was weak and dizzy and had many falls during these years.
I was in a fog and I was miserable. Almost all the side effects are gone now but I'm still very weak and tired. I have lost a bit of the weight; but I've heard from many people that they lose all their weight after they are completely off these medications. It is a hard and long process tapering off these drugs; but it will be worth it to get 'me' back. Please do all the research that you can find on these meds. Take care everyone and I wish you all the best. Cindy
Jude3348
29 July 2018
In all my years of taking Lyrica for my fibromyalgia, Lyrica did absolutely NOTHING!!! The only thing Lyrica did was make me gain 30 pounds. Even after the doctor raised my dose several times, it didn't work. I was recently prescribed cymbalta. We'll see. I wish you the best because I know how much I suffer with this disease.
cancerlady
28 July 2018
I have been taking 200mg. of Lyrica for an ulcer on my leg. The ulcer has gone away along with the pain. I had relief in about a week.
mike1974
25 Oct 2018
Lyrica is the only drug that vastly reduces my diabetic neuropathy. Nothing else worked. Even strong PK like Vicodin and morphine did hardly nothing for my nerve pain. I found adding 2500mcg's of B12 time released helps a lot also.
Pharmersdaughter
9 March 2018
It took me more than three months to see any significant improvement in my condition.
I had what I scientifically called, “the jumpy legs.” Every night I would lay in bed with my legs kicking uncontrollably. It didn’t hurt per se but it kept me awake and drove me nuts!
When my arms began doing the same thing I headed for the doctors office. My husband was tired of sleeping next to the ghost of Bruce Lee!
Don’t give up on the Lyrica right away. And don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about increasing the dose if it doesn’t seem to be working.
Good luck!
Be well
Pharmersdaughter
Reubentzve
7 Jan 2019
Sounds like my restless leg syndrome
William furmanski
4 Feb 2017
How long does it take for Lyrica to take effect
efairfie
12 Dec 2016
I injured my thoracic and lower back after falling from a height (30 years ago). It was a compression type injury and there were disc herniation/tears at 3 levels in the lower back. However, the thoracic was by far the worse pain I ever experienced. The thoracic and lower back were completely different injuries, and two very different types of pain. However the thoracic was horrific with burning nerve pain accompanied by permanent spasm throughout my upper back, rhomboids scapula, traps, lats... thick cords of muscle. I spent hours day after day in door jams just to distract myself from going mad with the sensation. It was 24/7 unrelenting for 14 years. I don't remember my 20s. I saw numerous neurologists, orthopedic, rheumatoid and pain specialists.They diagnosed a range of things. Agreed T3-5 was the problem area and that surgery was not an option.No treatment or drug help. Any form of heat made the neuralga worse.
If I packed my thoracic back in ice,I actually got some relief. About 6 years ago I was introduced to Lyrica and within 4 days I didn't have any pain. It was bliss.I couldn't believe it. I stopped taking Lyrica shortly after that (2 weeks)expecting it would come back. But it didnt, at least not in the same way. I could do more activity without triggering it and months passed before I really upset it. Last week I triggered it after a long car ride. I'm back on Lyrica for the last 3 days and it has improved significantly. Based on past experience I expect it will be a few more days before it settles. I am so grateful that I found this drug. I am a true believer that it works, at least for my sort of injury. Interestingly, it doesn't work for my lower back pain. This realusation make me appreciate how all back injuries are different. But, if Lyrica works, it can change your life. I am so happy I found it, as it had given me a better quality life. Regardless I still have to careful and manage what I do, activity wise day to day.
havelock167
30 Oct 2017
Have you tried a Tens Machine? Google info about it and your nearest supplier. I think they cost about $200 and if you need it constantly then you would have to buy two, one to wear and one on charge. Gives you 12 hours relief then swap. Hope this helps.
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- Lyrica prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lyrica (detailed)
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