Another Medication Faux Pas
By freak369
@freak369 (5112)
United States
September 23, 2018 3:51am CST
When I started on Lyrica for phantom pains I did so knowing that my insurance might not cover it. If that were the case I would be willing to pay out of pocket BUT it should be approved since I had mad hallucinations on Neurontin and this was to be the replacement for it.
Long story short, they denied it and the pharmacy never bothered to tell me so when I went to get two other items waiting for me they dropped the bomb on me. The cost? $890.00 a month. I told the pharmacist that I only had two doses left and I needed to taper off it - that's when the feathers started to fly.
The pharmacist agreed 100% that I needed to taper off it but the doctor wouldn't write for a ten day dose. I have no idea why but that's what the pharmacist was told when his call was returned. So there I was, stuck without any Lyrica and starting to feel the effects of ignoring the taper down protocol.
One of the worst withdrawal issues with Lyrica is the depression, the second worse is auditory hallucinations. The second day off of it my skin felt like there were bugs crawling on it and then under it. I knew that this wasn't happening but I scratched for hours nonetheless. I could tell the difference between real-life events and the things that mind mind was picking up the wrong way.
Even though Lyrica worked great at reducing my stump pain / phantom pain, muscle contractions and jerking as well as muscle and joint pain I have to be honest and say that I'd never start back on it without getting a three month supply at a time and making sure I get my refill two weeks early so I always have a "cushion" in case something happens in the future with availability. .
2 people like this
2 responses
@freak369 (5112)
• United States
23 Sep 18
OK but my dialysis treatments are making me super sick after the first two and a half hours. My head starts pounding, I get sweaty, anxious etc. I hope this is just a temporary thing because I hate having to quit sessions early or miss them all together
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
23 Sep 18
It is crazy that it costs so much and that it was not approved. I applaud you for writing about it to help keep things straight for others. You can tell us you are depressed. You can tell us you are hallucinating. I have never had the pains you have so I can empathize but not claim to know what you are going through. My doctor has suggested that drinking a serving of V8 or the store brand will help with muscle spasms and it does. I also take an extended release guaifensen tablet morning and evening and it seems to help. I am sorry you have to go through this. When my younger sister was ill they put her on Neurontin for a pain issue and it got worse. I do not know anyone personally who takes Lyrica.
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