I am having a hard time understanding why those of us who are meds like narcotics and others, have to very gradually cut down on a medication like Lyrica. I know it's like a Schedule V, but it's pretty low on the scale. Of all the medications I take because of head trauma & chronic pain, Lyrica seems like Baby Aspirin compared to the heavy stuff. Why must we be slowing weaned off this medication like Oxycontin or Fentanyl?

Can someone post their opinion on this please ...

Thanks!

Joe

Because it can cause rebound seizures, even for those of us who are not taking it for seizure control.

Hi all ,
im new to this forum chat, just wanted to say that i was diagnosed with crps 3 years ago and at the moment i take 300mgs of lyrica day and also 20mgs of morphiene a day .I would like to come off the morphiene eventually and also try to reduce the Lyrica but am a bit scared because at the moment i have the pain somewhat under control ,still have the odd bad day ,but alot better than it has ever been...has anyone ever come off Lyrica and been ok .

sorry if i waffled on ...
Neil xxxxxxxx

Hi Coyote,

Why do you want to come off the meds ? Do you have reason to suspect that the CRPS is in remission ? I would be very careful about messing with a formula that seems to be working.

Some conditions will require medication management for the rest of our lives. I've seen a lot of patients think that, for instance, they can stop taking their blood pressure pills because their bp has been good for over a year. Unless they have changed other things in that time period (like losing weight), their bp is good because they are taking their meds.

I'm new to CRPS. I understand that some people can have remissions, but I'm not sure if they have changes in the more visible signs of the disorder when their condition has improved. Like, does the skin get "normal looking" again and does the sweating stop ?

If your question was simply......Can someone taper off Lyrica slowly and not have complications from the taper ? Sure, that happens all the time (I've done that myself because my insurance wouldn't cover Lyrica and I was out of free samples from my doc). If your question is ..........Will my CRPS still be in control if I stop taking this med ? Then, I think that is much more complicated to answer, but the most obvious answer for most people will be that their pain will increase.

I'd definitely talk to your doctor before fiddling with any of your doses. Good Luck !

Hi there..

I had to be taken off lyrica because of it causing bad thoughts, suicidal nasty stuff just poppin in my head, had me pretty scared of myself.
I was tapered over 2 weeks, the pain never changed when I went off thought it helped alot when I first went on lyrica, and the bad thoughts got alot better after stopping it.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01786.html

Be well,
Sandel

Thanks to all who responded to my question about tapering off of Lyrica. I have been traveling a lot lately and just talked to my doc at my appt. last week. I recently had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted for my neuropathy pain which has reduced my pain by 20-25%. So she had no issue with taking me off the Lyrica. (In addition to causing a 25% weight gain, it has effected my eyesight as well.) I am starting today and should be completely off in 3 weeks or so.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.
Nancy

I have been on Lyrica for three years. A year or so ago, my Part D decided not to cover it anymore and cut me off. I was just taking 50mg tid and was in full blown withdrawl the next day. It took my doc ten days to get it straightened out and I was in withdrawl the entire time...............no let up. As a matter of fact, I called him the day it was finally approved and said I was going to the ER and say the magic words to get admitted to the psych unit where I could get it since it was on my med list.

I can go off of hefty pain meds with minimal discomfort but this was pure hell with the sweats, chills, bowl problems etc. This also kicked off a Fibro flair that lasted several months. Just my strange experience.

I'm a Fibro patient - new to the forums (where is the fibro forum?!).
I've got to stop Lyrica because of extreme blurred vision, phtophonia, and peripheral edema. My eyesight is so bad, I can't read or drive and have to sit 3 feet from the TV. Really bytes. At any rate, Doc said it depends on the dosage and how long you've been taking it. I'm onlt taking 50 mg 2X daily - these past three months so shoudn't experience much in the way of withdrawal. Key is to get your Doc's advice - and follow it!
Hoping to get my eyesight back,
Jean

Hi Jean and welcome

you will find our fibro forum here
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum12.html

Hi - I am on Lyrica for my CRPS/RSD. My doctor took me off Lyrica in March to see if it was helping any but unfortunately I came off it too quickly and had withdrawal symptoms (these including, difficulty breathing, vomiting, mood swings etc)
Please talk to your doctor and see if he/she can wean you off it
Best wishes
Alison