I was on 150 mg daily for almost 3 years. I started to experience really bad side effects from the medicine and that's when I decided to go off it. I weaned down really slowly for two months. I thought weaning down for so long would help the withdrawal to not be so bad. But I guess I was wrong.
I'm glad the ibuprofen helped!!

Hey man! hold on! you'll be fine! (Y)
I had a great sleep and today is very good compared to yesterday. I really want to feel hope, and want to come uphill now! I just hate the up and down aspect of this hole shi t.. the part that you can never be sure in yourself, that "yes, now it's getting better".. cause after a few "good" days it can hit in again really strong. but whatevs, onetime it will be over, and we will never have to surf this thread again

The ups and downs are like a roller coaster. It's hard to know if you're getting better when you start to feel bad again. I think it's also really weird that I feel better, but then start to feel worse. You would think once you started feeling better you'd continue to go uphill. I guess the hill is staggered...
Oh well, I had a good day too and actually wasn't too sick to my stomach and had a pretty good appetite. Can't wait for all days to be good!!

GOT TO A MAJOR POINT IN UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE LYRICA WITHDRAWAL MECHANISM!

I've seen a very good psychiatrist today, who helped me understand the whole deal, that we are going through during the Lyrica withdrawal.
And the main thing I needed to understand, were of course my symptoms. The symptoms of constant pain, aching, and exhaustion are indeed, the symptoms of DEPRESSION.

So clearly I am diagnosed with depression.
And oddly enough I feel happy about this diagnose.

Because it's not real. It's just the symptoms of it, but not really a deep depression.

Depression involves the feeling of inflammation, and aching, and fatigue, so these withdrawal effects should not be stated separately. Depression doesn't neccesarily mean that you're feeling down, or sad. You can actually have depression without feeling anxious or sad at all. !!!! (it happens to me!!)

So there shouldn't really be anymore said to this whole thread.

ANYTHING THAT HELPS RELIEVE DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS HELP RELIEVE LYRICA WITHDRAWAL.

you got to note though, that it is the brighter side of depression, because it's not caused by any real life events, traumas, or long-term anxiety. instead it's caused by the body's need of the drug "pregabalin". Due to the fact that the body has gotten completely addicted to it, and it can become addicted to it in a very short period of time.

My new doc told me that he would advise some anti-depressants, but I am going to refuse that. I don't want to mess up my brain even more, and Lyrica-withdrawal is a chemical thing, that will end by itself after a while, so I don't need to combat it that much, by risking that I will get addicted to a new substance. (which will cause withdrawal symptoms again and again..)

My best advice now is, to try everything that makes you happier.
Raise the serotonin levels!

The best non-pharmacy substance for this, in my opinion VegEpa. VegEpa is a highly purified omega 3 fish oil, with high levels of EPA, which help raise the serotonin levels of the brain, and help ease withdrawal symptoms. It acts as an SSRI anti-depressant, but it doesn't make you addicted, because it's just basically fish

Being outside in the sun helps a lot, walks help a lot, if you don't have the energy to go out and meet with friends, it helps to call them over, watch a movie together, or go for a walk. Just light tasks, that makes life more enjoyable.

Another really-really important factor is getting a good sleep. I noticed when I have a great sleep, I can reduce my symptoms dramatically. VegEpa helps with that too. You got to take a higher dose though. 3-4 capsules per day. It's a bit expensive, but after you're through with this shi t, you don't have to take it anymore, and it doesn't cause any withdrawal symptoms. it's all natural.

I think this new thing I found out today applies for me in a great deal, but probably would help also for you guys.

off lyrica about ten months now, hang in there everyone, I am so far beyond the suffering i can hardly even remember it. but it was bad and lasted months and months. I do still have sleep troubles. and i forget thoughts sometimes while articulating. and I'm a little more sensitive. I am totally sober, no drugs, alcohol or smoking. just coffee. I quit it pretty cold turkey for 350 mg or something. you all can read my posts as I can here religiously when I was going through it. it is very hard but you will make it, it's a commitment, but it pays off, 7 months you're pretty good. work out everyday. much love and strength to all you out there dealing with pain management issues and addiction. may you be at ease.

I too am withdrawing from lyrica and after reading everybodys posts I am absolutely convinced that this is what has happened to me, I am dreadfully sick, not able to eat for two weeks since stopped lyrica completely.. I quit my job, and cry like a babe..
nausea is horrendous
constipation
sweats (today) and horrible headache caused by light intolerance (sun light) or white lights...
vomited like crazy two nights ago and went to hospital to get iv fluids
my hand is swollen, my back is swollen and the pain clinic shots didn't worked as well this timea round

feel that we should unite forces and sue the lyrica makers they are killing people with their posion
I am depressed, sad and had suicidal ideation however I didn't realized till now.. even if I read my previous posts, everything points at this hell of lyrica

I also have very acidic stomach, and even my tears hurt my eyes..

I do feel I am dying and my nerve pain is out o whack

thank you for sheding a light in the nightmare of withdrawals
the hospital gave me "pink lady" for the nausea which is a Maalox with lidocaine and it worked to stop the nausea and the swallowing problems.. but is very temporary relief/..

OTC acid reflux meds -tecta works (magnesium)
100% lavender oil prn (rubbed in the skin to ease the horrible nerves)
chamomile tea for the nausea and water retention (just flushes everything out) -black, no sugar or cream-
juices (carrot, beet, celery, etc) to prevent fainting spells or dizziness due to lack of food tolerance.. it also helps with minerals needed not to dehydrate
IV fluids -go to the er, stay put, wait till two bags are in you will feel much better
keep up with fluids- use pedialyte for kids.. drink a little bit several times a day.. it works to restore electrolites and therfore feel much better

antidepressants (stay away from them please!!) it works better if you make your own anti-depressant treat that works wonders

buy some pot, and boil it on water until the water turns green.. remove the water (and of course, drink it with honey) but do this when you are 100% sure you are not going to drive, work or do anything that requires to be sharp.. just allow yourself to relax and be comfortable..

this helps not to feel choking or the horrible side effects of smoking
and the tea is as good.
or just buy some pot butter or candy or brownies or make your own.. just get out of your misery and relax.

stay away of codeine, opiates, and tylenol (any kind) those drugs are evil and have horrible side effects

avoid all spices, meats, and heavy stuff and let your tummy detox naturaly with juices and tea

finally we will survive, we will have this experience and maybe will be able to help others to cope with the horrific withdrawal symptoms
at least ty!!! like my favourite song says (Pink)
Even if it burns doesn't mean your gonna die
WE GOTTA GET UP AND TRY!!

Withdrawing from Lyrica also made me dreadfully sick!! The nausea and upset stomach were unbearable at times. I found ginger to be helpful for the nausea, as well as a prescription anti-nausea medicine from my doctor. Warm peppermint tea, even adding ginger to it also helped, at least to take the edge off. Wasn't a cure, but soothed the nausea a bit.
I got so sick, and got the the point anything I ate would make me vomit/go to the bathroom. I lost 20 pounds, which put me underweight. I am petite and really couldn't afford to lose that weight. I've had a hell of a time trying to gain it back too. Lyrica, which is known to cause allergies, caused me to develop a bunch of food allergies: gluten, dairy, soy, and grains. Seems crazy, but I never had these allergies before Lyrica, and my doctor confirmed they are a result of the drug. AAH!! So frustrating. My nausea and indigestion problems have improved, as long as I eat really really really healthy.
I understand that feeling of "dying and nerve pain out of whack." I had many days of asking my family "Am I am going to make it? because I really feel like I'm not going to make it." It is a horrible feeling. It's been over a year since I started my withdrawal and I've been off Lyrica completely 10 months. As I just mentioned in another post, this past week I actually started to feel like my old self again. I'm actually tearing up writing this because it's been such a painful process and I didn't know if I'd ever feel normal again. I just hope I'm really on the mend, and not just an up phase before another withdrawal period hits me.
Hang in there and try to stay positive!!
Feel free to ask me any questions or chat if you just need to vent!
This has been a great community to help me get through this process.

Hello and thanks to all on this thread,
I was taking Lyrica for around 6 years with the last 3 1/2 at 600 mg a day. Last year I started to taper off very slowly over many months. When I got to about 300 mg I started to notice the withdrawal symptoms. Last fall I was down to only 100 mg a day and it was terrible so I decided in December to stop. Well long story short, December through March were h*ll. I am still dealing with the withdrawal symptoms and the increased nerve issues from my cervical problems. When will the strange physical feelings go away! I am always cold and feel like I have a fever but do not. I still have a strange numbness. The anxiety is almost all gone now after 5 1/2 months.... but I am still not myself at all.

Thanks to all for posting their experience with stopping Lyrica. I will never take it again.

Hi, so sorry to hear you're suffering from the awful Lyrica withdrawal, but sooo glad to hear you made the choice to stop taking it. I have said the same thing, that I will never take it again!! You could not pay me to take it again.
I've posted often on this site; read through my posts to learn about my experience coming off Lyrica, which was absolutely horrific.
I understand the strange physical feelings, and weird temperature sensations (cold but feverish!) and increased nerve issues.
I found that that in the initial stages of withdrawals (if you can call months and months "initial stages") There was an increase in nerve agitation from my original pain problems (that for which I was on Lyrica), but eventually those nerve sensitivities decreased. I felt like my nerves were super inflamed and irritated without Lyrica, but I think it was part of the withdrawal phase...like it's trying to trick your body into taking the medicine again. My original chronic back pain hasn't disappeared either, but I think the extra agitation from Lyrica withdrawal is gone.
I've been off Lyrica completely for 10 months (after weaning for about 3 months). My last really bad withdrawal day was about 2 and half weeks ago and it's really amazing it's been that long!! This past week I felt like my old self again, probably in the first time since over a year when I first started the weaning process. I just hope it continues to get better. I did have a few days or a week or so that I would feel close to my old self, but always relapsed. I'm hoping this time is different. It certainly would be nice to be over this completely.
Hang in there!! Those first six months are the worst, but the next six months get better, at least for me they did.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I found it helpful to reach out to those on this site who really understand what we've been going through.