Lyrica Doesn't Help

Hello, my mother has neuropathy in her feet after the Velcade/Thalydomide course. She wasn't given anything to help fight it at the time. The chemo didn't work and she is on Revlimid now and taking Lyrica for her feet. However, it doesn't do anything. Has anyone had the same problem and what are alternatives?

Thank you very much

Yana

Hi Yana -- I had exactly the same thing as your mom after Velcade/Thalid. but Lyrica did work for me.  Unfortunately the cost of Lyrica was too high here in Australia, so I have changed to Gabapenten which also works well.  I have been on Revlimid for 18 months and taking the Gabapenten as well, and now I only have mild tingling in my fingers -- it doesn't interfer with my typing, eating or origami!!  The pain is gone.  I take 300mg of Gabapenten (one capsule) once a day.  This drug is also used for pain and epilepsy, so one can't just stop taking it but must be weaned off of it when the time comes.  So far I have found that the neuropathy returns when I reduce the dose of Gabapenten, so I'm just continuing to take it.  Best wishes to your mom -- there are things that will help so keep looking!!  Take care, Cath

Thank you very much - we will try that. Unfortunately, her doctor thinks that dealing with side effects while undergoing chemo is fruitless - she has to wait until it is over and then try and get everything back together - I am a bit worried about this approach....

I'm afraid that I agree with you Yana, in that if I am taking chemo and I develop side effects, then I need to review what I am taking at that moment and make changes.  I personally don't believe in trying to 'live with side effects', particularly if those side effects are making my Quality of Life very poor.  What's the point of that?  Fortunately my doctor believes first and foremost in quality of life, and that was why my initial dose of Revlimid started at 50mg, changed to 25mg and finally dropped to 10mg as the side effects were not acceptable.  With the reduction in strength of medication I lost all side effects and have now been on the med for over 18months and experiencing the best quality of life I have had since I was first diagnosed.  In fact, it seems pretty irresponsibe to me to continue taking anything that causes problems with the hope that you can fix the 'problem' after the course is finished!  We are blessed to have so many different medications that surely there is one that will do the job without causing unbearable side effects.  I wish you and your mom all the best in your journey, Cath