“I’d like to try Lyrica, but I worry about if I ever had to come off. Should I try it?”

For today’s Ask The Coach episode, I’m answering this question sent in by Sarah in the UK.

When treating fibromyalgia, we have to attack it from two sides. The first is addressing the fibromyalgia itself and the amplification of pain signals; the second is treating the pain that your fibromyalgia amplifies.

In most cases, fibromyalgia medications are more helpful than harmful and can be a valuable tool to break the pain cycle.

That said, the question of medications is complex and impossible to cover in detail in a podcast episode. Tami’s primary focus for this answer will be on fibromyalgia medications that address the amplification of pain signals, how they work, and the most important aspects you’ll want to consider.

In this episode, Tami discusses the FDA-approved medications for fibromyalgia, the fact that no single drug is capable of managing all fibromyalgia symptoms, Tami’s two-pronged approach to treating fibromyalgia, the main goal of fibromyalgia medications, Lyrica’s history and previous versions, how Lyrica and Neurontin work to reduce our experience of our pain, common side effects of Lyrica, physical dependency versus addiction, how serotonin and norepinephrine affect pain levels, why the anti-depressants Savella and Cymbalta also help to address fibromyalgia symptoms, the mode of action of other anti-depressants that are sometimes prescribed for fibromyalgia, Cymbalta is known for being challenging to come off of, the importance of very slowly weaning off of medications, the gradual process Tami used when she was ready to come off of her medications, why we hear more stories about negative experiences, the fact that there’s no morality in taking medication, and more.

In this episode of our Ask the Coach series, Tami answers a question sent in from a listener: Should I go outside my insurance to get fibromyalgia treatment?

So many fibromyalgia patients struggling to feel better focus on what their insurance will provide for them. The reality is that no matter how good your doctor is, or how good your insurance coverage is, there will be things you’ll need to pay for out of pocket if you want to feel your best. This may mean adjusting your expectations and re-prioritizing how you’re spending some of your finances to focus more on your health.

Tami also introduces the Sherri Little Foundation, a non-profit organization created to provide micro-grants of $1,000 or less to chronic pain patients for things that insurance doesn’t cover, such as medical equipment, travel to see specialists, treatments, and more.

The Sherri Little Foundation will begin awarding their first grants in 2020.

Thousands of fibro patients are dispelling the gloomy prognosis that once came with fibromyalgia. The good news is there are so many ways for you to start feeling better! With so many options to take back your health and your life, the new challenge is figuring out where to begin. Do you start with cutting out sugar? Adding a supplement? Improving your sleep hygiene? Trying new techniques for pain remediation? Relax. Now smile. Tami offers expert guidance with four simple questions.

Every 10th episode is a special one, where Tami answers YOUR burning questions. Our first listener question is one that Tami hears quite a lot: “Does the weather affect fibromyalgia?” Listen in for some of the science behind the answer, as well as how our own bodies may know things that science hasn’t figured out yet.