Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Have they changed them? The last one I saw talked about tapering over a week. Obviously, for many, that's not nearly long enough. This page I read earlier this morning suggested tapering down 50 mg per week.

Getting Off Lyrica Without Problems; Minimize Side Effects

Doc

Originally Posted by Hockey

No, my doc just maintained, despite all the evidence, that Lyrica isn't addictive.

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Technically, it's not—it's dependence-producing.

http://www.asam.org/docs/publicy-pol...1.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Sorry, I'm a little pedantic on this point. Medicine uses very precise language for clear understanding.

"Here's to plain speaking and clear understanding."—Kasper Gutman ("The Fat Man"), The Maltese Falcon

Doc

Originally Posted by Hockey

Tomato - To-motto/Potato- Pototto
Having lived through cold turkey Lyrica withdrawal, I'm not much interested in the distinction. No, I didn't crave Lyrica, after it was out of my system, as I would other addictive substances. However, the real problem we're discussing is doctors who refuse to acknowledge the very real suffering of patients breaking their dependency. TERRIBLE DRUG!!!!!

Originally Posted by Johnsonsyard

My Doc is proceeding at a breakneck pace to get me of Lyrica . down 100mg in 3weeks . Today all hell broke loose when my old neuropathic pain re appeared with a vengence over the left side of my face.

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Hi Nick,

If the pain is returning, that sounds like the Lyrica was working. I re-read the thread; I didn't see why you're discontinuing(?)

Doc

Originally Posted by Hockey

However, the real problem we're discussing is doctors who refuse to acknowledge the very real suffering of patients breaking their dependency.

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Ok. That topic has come up here before, particularly with Lyrica & gabapentin.

As I said, medicine is a precise language, yet some doctors can still be very poor communicators. We also get the (justified) complaint a lot here too about doctors not taking enough time to explain/answer questions. Things are/may not always be as they seem...

Example: A patient goes to their doctor and says, "Doctor, I'm experiencing these horrible withdrawal symptoms; does this mean I'm addicted?" The doctor replies, "No, you cannot be addicted; Progenitorivox is not addicting," but doesn't elucidate further. Many doctors just try to keep answers short—so as not to confuse or overwhelm patients with lengthy detailed answers—or for other reasons known only to them.

To the patient, the above sounds like the doctor is being dismissive, and/or doesn't believe him/her, or is refusing to acknowledge their very real suffering.

To the doctor, s/he's just keeping the answer short. Maybe s/he's pressed for time, maybe s/he's got a lot on his/her mind and didn't give it a second thought, maybe s/he thinks the patient isn't much interested in the distinction... who knows?

However, to chronic pain patients especially, the distinction is very important, because addiction—unlike dependence—attaches a huge stigma, perpetuated in large part due to the confusion caused by not undestanding the difference, and using the terms interchangably.

From a previous thread on a similar topic:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1016837-50.html

Doc

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Have they changed them? The last one I saw talked about tapering over a week. Obviously, for many, that's not nearly long enough. This page I read earlier this morning suggested tapering down 50 mg per week.



Doc