Hi Everyone, On the way off Lyrica after awful reactions. Cut by half now but suffering from shortness of breath, pounding chest and head not to mention muscle spasms. Was getting SEVERE headaches ( ended up at Accident and EMERG ) . Have had massage on head , neck and shoulders which massage therapist found to be the toughest she's done and made headaches less severe. Any anxiety I feel is not me as I feel quite calm but body reacting independently ( I know that sounds crazy ) I was born with thickening of pulmonary artery and wonder if I should have been on this at all , but medics deny any link . I think they are covering themselves . Does this situation ring a bell with anyone ?


Regards



Nick

OMG, YES!!!!!!!!!!!

I took a high dose of Lyrica for over a year, must have been four or five years ago, now. My neurologist insisted that Lyrica was not addictive and forced me off COLD TURKEY.

I cannot even begin to describe the horror of my withdrawal. THE PAIN. I had all the symptoms you described and one where my eyes watered and hurt so much, I could barely see.

This happened fairly early after my MVA and I hadn't recovered my wits sufficiently to advocate for myself. I was also litigating and couldn't afford to look "non-compliant." In fact, my neurologist was a notorious insurance industry stooge and I feel that's exactly what he was trying to make me do. My psychologist thought so, too.

Sadly, she was on vacation when all this happened. When she got back, she was so enraged that she wanted to report the neurologist to the relevant professional standards authorities.

For the love of heaven, it states right in the product's own literature that the drug is addictive. It goes on to say that people should be weaned off gradually as there are documented cases of people having DIED from immediate withdrawal. If cold turkey withdrawal is necessary, to prepare a patient for an emergency surgery or something, the withdrawal should take place in a HOSPITAL setting, with constant supervision.

As much as it was clear that my neurologist had done something professionally incompetent and morally reprehensible, I had to let it go, for fear of the damage he could do to my legal action. Talk about feeling helpless.

I cannot believe how sick I am! At least I found this forum and know I am not insane. Withdrawing from an AD was easier I think. I have a call out to my doctor and the pharmacy. I have been on for only four months but at 600 mg. on top of being sick, not sleeping and soaking my pj's, I had an attack of paranoia! I really did not realize Lyrica was this kind of medication, though it does say so in the literature, I thought that clause was just to cover them.

I stopped cold turkey (stupid stupid stupid I know) because my feet were swollen.

It's good you've called your doctor. This is NOT a drug to quit Cold Turkey.
I know you're suffering - hang in there.

Thanks for contributing to the thread. Withdrawal its getting really tough. Woke up today after restless night aching and pain ALL over . Muscle spasms everywhere . Those around head neck face very bad. Headaches , Head presurised. flu like symptoms . Old back pain / pelvic pain acute , walking difficult, TMJ worse.Gastric problems. Did not feel like this before Lyrica. Felt like going to die.

Hanging in , must be way through.

Appreciate comment.

Thanks

Nick

Are you under medical supervision, Nick? Please don't go it alone.

Hi Hockey . Yes under supervision But my doc tends to think Lyrica can do no wrong and these reactions must be down to my own body . Still a lot going on but struggling through. Seeing homeopath about my neuropathic pain . Hopeful.

Regards

Nick

Yes, that drug can and does cause all those side effects. A more gradual reduction in med. can help. Eventually you do get off the drug and feel much better. ginnie

I guess your doc, like mine, couldn't be bothered to read the info the DRUG COMPANY provides on Lyrica. Talk about God Complexes.

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