Hi , I think I've reached rock bottom with the Withdrawal and could do with some encouragement. Some people call it Hell and I've got to concur. I have got dreadful anxiety affecting Gut ,neck ,head in particular. Spasms in bowel seem to affect back of neck and cause spasms in scalp which create a burning pain on scalp that is very hypersensitive. Feel full of tension and can't relax . It's also affecting my TMJ with the muscle spasm.This is not me . Need to get my life back . Doc suggests dropping another 25 mg and upping diazepam for a week. Don't trust doc anymore as it was him who put me on it saying it would only make me a bit dizzy. Plse drop me a line . Anyone else had similar experience ? Only had TMJ problem before this drug.

Regards

Nick

Wow, I am so sorry to hear this. I have had chronic pain, also, due to a number of health problems, and was on lyrica and similar meds. I am much better now. I confess I also had a very hard time with lyrica-type drugs and had to stop them. It is very hard to get off of them. The doctors tend to start you on too high of a dose and also tell you to wean off way too fast. If you are sensitive (like me) you have to go very slow up and very slow down or you will have bad reactions. I believe I read somewhere that to safely wean off of these sorts of meds, you have to reduce only by 10% every month. I confess, I reduced by 10% every two weeks and was OK. I don't know anything else about your condition because I am new here, but I hope that is helpful. I really feel for you. I remember feeling like my life was hell and would never get better, but with patience, persistence, and a lot of help from this and other forums, I did improve quite a bit and have hope that I will continue to improve.

Oops, forgot to mention that my reactions to lyrica were dizziness, suicidal thoughts, brain fog to the point I could not even drive the car, and body-wide muscle twitching. I saw a pain specialist after a very long wait and she told me the neurologist had started me on too high a dose.

Hi Pepper999

Thanks for reply . I really appreciate it. I too have had desperate dark thoughts but try to be objective that it's the drug not me thats doing this. Yesterday my wife called an ambulance as I was violently shaking and pain was too much. Hospital gave me Procyclidene for spasm . It seemed to work to a degree. Early days yet. The anxiety that this drug can promote is evil. One day at a time. Feel bad today maybe tomorrow a little better ?.


Regards


Nick

Lyrica absolutely can cause dark thoughts. There is a warning for suicidal ideation on the adverse reactions list.

You are so blessed to have a wife to support you. I was very blessed to have a therapist that I started seeing after my divorce and who was there when I needed her when my mental and physical health deteriorated. I still see her. I am dealing with PTSD, insomnia, and other anxiety-related problems. I am now much more cautious with prescriptions that I was before. I will typically try out the lowest does or even half of the lowest dose before I take more than that. And when I go off of something, I go off very slowly. So far this has helped me to avoid having any more horrible reactions.

I think what also helped is I have been off of gluten for almost 3 years. I have never been tested for Celiac, but my doctor believes I have it. It first manifested neurologically in me. My gastro symptoms came later and are pretty mild. So no doctor thought of it until a couple of years ago. And, actually, it was a doctor in the Netherlands who I met on a pain forum who referred me to a dietician who told me to get off of gluten. Too bad I didn't discover this until I was over 50. I think I would be well now and working if I had known this 10 years ago.

It was a slow road to recovery to the point I am now. Every week I would say to myself, I think I am a little better than last week. And, in the end, it turned out to be true. It will be true for you, too.

I noticed you mentioned neuropathic pain in another thread. The doctor who helped me with my neuropathic pain was from this website. I met him on a pain forum, but I can't remember where that was.

http://www.neuropathie.nu/english-ar...d-website.html

Here's one of Dr. Jan's videos. There are many. Just search Normast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BiurYw9XrA

The supplement he talks about was called Normast when I first started using it. Now, in the Netherlands, it's called PEAPure. I started on a high dose (4x what the box says with no adverse effects) and am now down to 1 capsule a day because I have healed quite a bit. There is only one distributor in the US and they sometimes run out. Here's where I order it.

http://www.rs4supplements.com/en/

Nick, I went through Lyrica withdrawal a few years ago. It was TERRIBLE, but I got through it - and you will, too.

I treated it like labour: I stopped fighting and just rode the pain. If I needed to scream, I did.

The good news is, that once you're done with it, you're done. You won't crave it or anything.

Hi Nick,
Just checking in to see how you are doing.I know what a slow painful process it can be and I know you have been suffering. I am hoping for some good news. I had one suggestion for you. Lyrica is still brand only, at least that is what my pharmacy told me.. Companies DO NOT like bad reviews or experiences with their drugs splashed all over the internet. Contact the manufacturer directly and tell them of your experience, see what help they suggest for your suffering. Tell them of all the others you have encountered on forums, etc with similar issues.

One time, I put on a fentanyl patch for the first time and I had non stop vomiting.It was a weekend, my doc was away and I did not want
To go the ER clueless and gravely ill, not thinking clearly and I had no one to help me. I saw an 800 # on the packing for customer support. When I told the company what was going on, Theyt got me to a pharmacist who explained what was happening and why. He said I was one
of the rare ones that got this reaction. He said to take the patch off immediately and that I had two options, go to the ER and get treated via IV for vomiting and dehydration or stay home and try to sip water and take anti nausea meds. They even called later to see how I was doing because the half life was something like 18 hrs, so that was 18 hrs of vomiting. I was very impressed they checked back on me. Large pharm companies have deep pockets, ask for help, they have the resources.

Anyway, these companies need to hear these stories. From time to timeI get so angry that I have even given some thought to starting a class action suit against Pfizer because of what has happened to so many of us, those of us being made gravely ill and unable function even months off the drug. They should not be allowed to get away with this. We need to stop this from happening to others. Docs are writing scripts for this drug for lots of off label uses. I am not bashing the drug as it has really helped my neuropathy but people need to know that the withdrawal can be life altering. I have tried to get of it twice but it alters me so ill i cannot function. Getting on it was not easy either but, I was warned very clearly by my doc.

really do hope you are better....did you make the graduation? I hope so.
Take care, Diandra

Hi Diandra , Did you get my PM in response to this ? Let me know and if not will update you. Nick

No, I did not get your PM. I am hoping for the best though.
Diandra