Shingles and Lyrica

[Biker Jo]

I've had shingles for about a week and a half, and I can't remember when I've experienced worse pain! On Monday my doctor prescribed Lyrica for the pain, and I'm supposed to take 50 mg twice a day. Because I had to work Tuesday and yesterday, I only took one (before bedtime), because my doctor told me it was sedating. (She did tell me not to work, but I'm self-employed, and as you all know, no work=no money.) I started the twice-a-day today, and I feel like a walking zombie, so it's a good thing I didn't take it and try to work.

Anybody else have experience with shingles and/or Lyrica?

And I'm also bummed out because the weather's beautiful, and we're supposed to have more beautiful weather for the holiday weekend, and I have absolutely no energy to ride.

[Dogmama]

Anybody else have experience with shingles and/or Lyrica?

.

No experience, but sending healing thoughts. My boss had shingles in his eye one time. Please take good care!

[Crankin]

My only thoughts are that I have fibromyalgia and I refuse to take Lyrica because of all of the side effects. I take a small dose (10 mg) of Elavil which is an older anti-depressant that seems to be used for a lot of "off" label diagnoses. Perhaps this might be an alternative?
Talk to your doctor.

[Chicken Little]

Did the Lyrica help with the discomfort? I have seen shingles make grown men cry, I would take it. You didn't mention if you had any underlying disease processes- I assume you are healthy enough to take this med and the shingles is just bad luck. Is that true?

[violette]

I'm curious; what is shingles?

[Veronica]

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can live, but remain inactive, in your body. If it becomes active again, usually later in life, it can cause Shingles. If you've had chickenpox, there is no way to predict if you'll get Shingles. What's more, the inactive virus usually has no signs or symptoms. So Shingles can appear at any time without warning.

From shinglesinfo.com


It turns out that's what I had when I was on my Nova Scotia self supported tour in 2006. It started out as a bad headache, then my eyes got all puffy, then I got what looked like giant acne all over my forehead. I went to a health clinic, with the puffy eyes and headache and got treated for migraine.

I didn't know for sure that's what it was until I went to my eye doctor 3 or 4 months later and had some new scarring on my corneas and he asked me about it. When I described all my symptoms, he told me that's what I had had.

I'm guessing I must have had a rather light case since I cycled 19 days with it on the tour and had no drugs other than Advil.

They are not really sure what causes it to flair up. Stress can be a factor.

V.