Lyrica & Incontinence (Page 2)

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I took Lyrica for about 6 weeks & noticed it caused incontinence or urine leakage. I stopped it & the sx subsided. I now restarted it as the pain was unbearable. It works wonders for the pain if you can endure the side effects. I am going to see if I can somehow control the urine leakage if it starts again.

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21

I've posted 2x before on this thread regarding urine leakage w/respect to Lyrica.
I was originally prescribed lyrica 75mg x3/day as my back pain became unbearable and I was becoming nonfunctional , regardless of PT, acupuncture, daily excercise, massage,etc. Lyrica was like a miracle and gave me my life back. Long about 1 yr in, I had gained 40 #s & 10" to my waist my clothes don't fit, and I'm still gaining slowly, despite watching my diet carefully. Even more worrisome was the urine leakage, at first stress incontinence, then just almost all the time. I was wearing 3 pee pads a day, even while on Myrbetriq, which I thought helped at first.
Finally, I was able to do some I thought I would never be able to do: weaning off of it. At one time I was upped to 4x day, I went down to 3. The two. At two, the urine leakage has been reduced to more common symptoms of stress incontinence. I ran out of Myrbetriq, and it made no difference, so I've d/c'd that as well. I forgot my lyrica last night, and did not have a sudden onslaught of feet pain and tingling, burning pain that keeps me awake. So maybe I can peel off another dose, getting down to one. Whew, it would be a relief not to need it! But there was a time when I was sure I would NEVER be able to reduce my dosage, as it was just way too painful. I thought nerve damage was permanent, an outcome of too much pain, too often, and uncontrolled, the kind of pain associated w/ a chronic, degenerative disease such as my spine (i.e., arthritis, degenerative disc disease leading to spinal stenosis, which is not only a very painful condition, but itself can choke off the cord and result in loss of function of bowl, bladder, and limbs.) at that critical stage I had 3 level laminectomy, but the surgery does not improve nerve damage. That's what Lyrica is for. My condition will get worse, and there will be more surgeries, I'm told, and more Lyrica. But for now, I'm more comfortable.

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22

When I take lyrics, I have this terrible feeling that I have to urunate, but then I can't go. I've stopped taking it because of this side effect.

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23

i have been on 200mg for about 2 months and in the last week i have wet the bed twice. this is embarssing. my poor husband wakes up in the puddle. i am on it for potential seizures, the other options give me GI problems.

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24

It seems to be only off an on that I experience urine incontinence. I have had 6 spine surgeries and may have to have another; but the pain relief is such that I can deal with some urine incontinence. Just Hoping I do not have to have more surgery. I find out this week. I sure wish someone would have told me about Lyrica for spine pain a few years ago!.

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25

I just googled "urinary incontinence with lyrica" and saw this post...Weew so I'm not crazy..and my body isn't falling apart...It started as just some dribbles running to the bathroom and now it's all day and night. I wonder if any of the overactive bladder meds would help? I do not want to come off of lyrica I spent almost a year and a half being in the bed miserable suicidal and now I can live and move and be myself its saved me literally.

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26

I have posted regarding my positive and my negative experiences with lyrica here on this site sev'l times. By now, I am finally off it, off Cymbalta, and off myrbetriq (the latter for incontinence side effects of lyrica.) While I'm grateful to have had it for nerve pain and neuropathy, I was discouraged by the memory problems, and the worsening incontinence, which became a nonstop 24/7 drip-drip-dribble-drip. Brain damage and diapers are not side effects I could accept. But I believed I would never be able to get off of it. But I did. It was very difficult. I had pain in places I didn't know we're a problem, such as elbow tendinitis (I had to avoid using any strength to open jars, doors, lift anything like a pot, and completely rest the affected tendons for several month, while using moist heat for many hours a day.) I also had more neuropathy pain, neck pain, tmj- so many places hurt all at once. Cymbalta withdrawal was brutal as well. But I gradually got off it over 3 months tapering down. Incontinence was completely gone after the last pill, and I feel my memory issues have improved, but not entirely. I'm happy I was able to get off of it. However, the incontinence issue has returned but seems to be associated w/ uti symptoms, though according to the dipstick test, I do not have uti. So another mystery to solve. But I am not going to solve it with medications: they wreak too much havoc. No more meds, please. Anyways, it just may be possible for others here to get off lyrica in time, even though it doesn't seem like you could ever get off it. I don't know why the pain I took it for is lessened. Doctors don't know. It's not curative, it's not supposed to work like this, but it did. I hope I never have to make the decision to take it again. Best of luck to everybody struggling with these issues.

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27

That's been happening to me, I just can't make it, so embarrassing

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28

I have just started lyrica and the same side effects and as embarrassing as it is bed wetti g

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29

The only treatment for lyrica induced incontinence, which for myself, eventually became drip-drip-drip nonstop 24/7, is to wear maximum absorbency incontinence pads or the special incontinence disposable "panty.. I was able to get off of lyrica over 6 mos, until the nerve pain reduced to a more manageable level. It continued to improve after my triple laminectomy over the next six months. The incontinence ceased on day one of d/c'g lyrica. However, it was extremely difficult to get off of: I had many areas of pain that had been suppressed by lyrica, and it was very stressful on my body. I became extraordinarily sick with the flu (I was vaccinated) which led to multiple secondary health problems, such as canker sores, etc., which only served to intensify my suffering. It was miserable, but I'm glad I'm off it. I'd gained 40lbs in one yr- I've lost 17 in 6 mos after stopping lyrica.

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30

I have mild fibromyalgia, did not care for Cymbalta, so doctor put me on 75mg Lyrica just before bedtime. I started it Monday evening, wet the bed Friday night. A bit of a surprise, to say the least; I am almost 78 years old, never had nocturnal enuresis problems since very early childhood. I will be monitoring this development during the rest of the trial month, and ditching the Lyrica if the bedwetting continues.

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31

Sometimes the choice is between the lesser of two evils: my pain was so severe I was in bed most of the time with ice, narcotic pain killers, rigorously routine daily exercises to stretch out cramping muscles and "Charlie horse" type leg cramping, TENS unit treatment several times a day, massage treatment (expensive, not covered by insurance, obviously) no social life, NO LIFE. Period. But urine leakage is uncomfortable, it's a nuisance, an embarrassment, but it isn't necessarily painful, unless you also have symptoms of cystitis (bladder tenderness, dysuria, frequency, urgency). Couple that with pelvic pain and stress incontinence in large volume, then you have a tough choice. I eventually could get off lyrica after triple level laminectomy spinal surgery, but lyrica is difficult to get off of. Much later, I once had to go back on it, regrettably, due to a fall which unsettled my spinal equilibrium. It was short, just 2-3 weeks, including tapering off period. It is unclear if it re-established incontinence; seems more likely due to bladder infection which showed positive. I don't think there is a treatment for it other than various pads or adult diapers and just live with it. Myrbetriq did nothing. Phenalazopyridine prescription strength has helped with cystitis symptoms, but pads are still necessary. Doctors don't have answers about causes and cures, which just adds to the frustration.

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32

Further to my message of October 22, 2016 above, I decided a gradual increase was worth a try. After stopping the 75mg/day dose for several days, I bought a package of empty gelatin capsules, opened two of the 75mg capsules, and carefully divided the powder into approximate 25mg doses. No enuresis. I took these, once a day in the late evening as before, for six days. Then I took six of the 75mg capsules and divided the powder into 9 50mg doses. Still no problems. Now I'm back on the 75mg/day dose, with the hope that the protocol I designed got my body to tolerate the drug. (But I bought a $1.25 plastic tablecloth as a mattress protector, and use a folded beach towel under the bottom bedsheet, just in case! LOL)

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33

Always makes a pad that looks like a menstrual pad but is made for incontinence. It is not bulky or uncomfortable at night.

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34

Continuing my report from November, another four weeks at 75mg/day, no enuresis. One more month to go, and then I will be seeing my doctor for several prescription renewals. At that time, we will decide what to do with the Lyrica. It does help me sleep, but has little to no effect on any of the other mild FM symptoms, including the muscle pain. I can have my usual glass of wine in the evening with no adverse effects. I will post another report after the doc's visit.

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35

When I started taking Lyrica I had a terrible problem with incontinence, especially at night. Every two hours I woke up with my bladder so full I could not make it to the bathroom. I had to have a potty chair next to the bed. Luckily I sleep light and never wet the bed as some have reported. This lasted around a month. Even now I have to be careful not to drink too much at night. "Always" makes incontinence pads similar to menstrual pads. I use the thicker one all the time and it has saved me from embarrassment (from leakage) more than once. I. Still wake up during the night to use the bathroom and barely make it sometimes, but it is not as bad as it was in the beginning, but that may be due to drinking less, not because my body got used to the medicine. If I didn't need it so much for neuropathy, I would have quit taking it long ago.

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36

A final follow-up to my message of November 13, 2016. After six weeks on the 75mg-per-day dosage, which has had little or no effect on my FM symptoms, I decided to wean myself off this drug. I took three capsules, divided the contents into six 35-40 mg doses, and will be done those in three more days. I will be seeing my doctor early next week to report my findings and decide what to do next.

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37

I began to take pregabalin five months ago for nerve pain but sadly I really have to rush to the toilet to pass urine. Is this just a coincidence or could it be the pregabalin. I have ms

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38

I had urinary in continence before I started taking lyrics for nerve pain from C6 nerve compression and my urge incontinence has improved out of site . Has anyone else found this as well

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39

I recently reported that I felt that pregabolin was causing me to pass urine often. However just a few days ago I discovered that I have an overactive bladder which has probably been the problem all along!

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40

lyrica definitely causes urine incontinence as I have been on it for years and tried to find out what was wrong with me and my leaking bladder day and night.homopath just told me it is lyrica side affects. wish I knew this year's ago thinking it was a serious bladder problem. I have given up on Dr they know nothing about medication they r prescribing.

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