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Old 09-27-2013, 11:26 AM #11
Island Mist Woman Island Mist Woman is offline
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Default Lyrica withdrawal

Hi TriviaFriend,

I have just joined this forum, because I was looking for answers for why I have been feeling so unwell this past 3 weeks. I tapered off slowly, but possibly not slowly enough.
It has been helpful to me see that many of the symptoms that I have been going through are listed by others.
My understanding was that symptoms would be milder than they have been and would take no more than a week to get through.
But clearly everyone is different.

My Symptoms include:

Exhaustion, coupled with insomnia (horrible combination)
Depression
Extreme episodes of sweating
Chills
Inability to regulate temperature
Headache
Nausea
Muscle aches
Short of breath
Lack of desire to socialize
Mood swings

Thanks so much to all for your interesting information
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Old 09-27-2013, 12:26 PM #12
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[QUOTE=Island Mist Woman;1017944]Hi TriviaFriend,

I have just joined this forum, because I was looking for answers for why I have been feeling so unwell this past 3 weeks. I tapered off slowly, but possibly not slowly enough.
It has been helpful to me see that many of the symptoms that I have been going through are listed by others.
My understanding was that symptoms would be milder than they have been and would take no more than a week to get through.
But clearly everyone is different.

My Symptoms include:

Exhaustion, coupled with insomnia (horrible combination)
Depression
Extreme episodes of sweating
Chills
Inability to regulate temperature
Headache
Nausea
Muscle aches
Short of breath
Lack of desire to socialize
Mood swings

Thanks so much to all for your interesting information

Hi Island Mist,
So Sorry you are going through so much suffering I am on Lyrica too. Is that the medication you are withdrawing from? How much were you taking and for how long? I am on 300 mgs day, for about 9 mos now. Its not helping me too much with my pain. What were you taking it for? I have idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. Lyrica is causing my hair to fall out, so I will have to get off of this med soon. Ive read so many horror stories on people who are withdrawing from lyrica. It scares me to death to think that Im going to have to suffer more pain on top of this neuropathic pain. Would you mind telling me how slowly you tapered. Do you think if you tapered slower that would have helped? Are you trying another medication for your pain? I know doctors tell you that you can taper off this medication in one week, well we know that is not true! It frustrates me that Doctors dont even know how bad this medication can be or either they do know and turn a deaf ear! I hope somebody will chime in soon to reassure you that you will feel better soon. please keep us posted. Thanks
Marie
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Old 09-29-2013, 12:35 PM #13
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Default Opposite Lyrica problem?

This my sound weird, and I'm probably not in the right arena, but I'm trying to wean ON the med, not off. I need help with the pain of RSD in my face, jaws and neck. I had 5 stellate ganglion blocks in Feb and it was a miracle of help. I weaned off Fentenyl patches and the other anti-seizure meds I'd been on. Unfortunately, it only lasted about 4 months and the pain is coming back and has been for the past almost 2 months. About a month ago, I had 2 more injections. I caught an upper respiratory infection about 2 weeks ago. The coughing is not helping...at all.
I had started on 25mg at night for 2 weeks and 2 days ago I increased to 50mgs out of desperation. I want to give the medication a chance to work, but I feel SO weird, kinda like brain zaps or withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Beth
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Old 09-30-2013, 11:48 AM #14
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Exclamation Lyrica withdrawal

it is important to know how addictative this drug is and how short a time period it takes for the drug to show the side effects. After 3 months on a 150mg dose and following exact medical advice on a slow a careful reducing dose plan, I have still suffered severe suicidal thoughts, severe abdominal pain, insomnia, rage, despair, exhaustion aand the list goes on. I wish I had never taken this drug, even the limited pain relief has not been worth it
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Old 09-30-2013, 08:07 PM #15
Island Mist Woman Island Mist Woman is offline
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Heart Lyrica withdrawal

[QUOTE=Marie33;1017960]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Island Mist Woman View Post
Hi TriviaFriend,

I have just joined this forum, because I was looking for answers for why I have been feeling so unwell this past 3 weeks. I tapered off slowly, but possibly not slowly enough.
It has been helpful to me see that many of the symptoms that I have been going through are listed by others.
My understanding was that symptoms would be milder than they have been and would take no more than a week to get through.
But clearly everyone is different.

My Symptoms include:

Exhaustion, coupled with insomnia (horrible combination)
Depression
Extreme episodes of sweating
Chills
Inability to regulate temperature
Headache
Nausea
Muscle aches
Short of breath
Lack of desire to socialize
Mood swings

Thanks so much to all for your interesting information

Hi Island Mist,
So Sorry you are going through so much suffering I am on Lyrica too. Is that the medication you are withdrawing from? How much were you taking and for how long? I am on 300 mgs day, for about 9 mos now. Its not helping me too much with my pain. What were you taking it for? I have idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. Lyrica is causing my hair to fall out, so I will have to get off of this med soon. Ive read so many horror stories on people who are withdrawing from lyrica. It scares me to death to think that Im going to have to suffer more pain on top of this neuropathic pain. Would you mind telling me how slowly you tapered. Do you think if you tapered slower that would have helped? Are you trying another medication for your pain? I know doctors tell you that you can taper off this medication in one week, well we know that is not true! It frustrates me that Doctors dont even know how bad this medication can be or either they do know and turn a deaf ear! I hope somebody will chime in soon to reassure you that you will feel better soon. please keep us posted. Thanks
Marie
Hi Marie,
I am just getting used to this site and these posts. I just tried to post under the Lyrica Withdrawal Forum, but I am not sure where the post went.

Yes, it is Lyrica that I am withdrawing from. I was on 300mg at bedtime. I will try and figure out how to do these posts properly so that I can continue my own journey of withdrawal. I have found the posts of others very helpful, but sure don't look forward to feeling like this for months.

It makes me quite angry that Dr's don't seem to know about the severity of the withdrawal symptoms, and neither does the drug company manufacturing this drug. It is so wrong. I have not found any information on the incidence of withdrawal symptoms. So 10% of people go through this? or do 90% of people go through this.

I wish you well in your own journey. I hope that you will be one of the people who does not go through withdrawal.

Take good care

D.
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Old 09-30-2013, 10:28 PM #16
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[QUOTE=Island Mist Woman;1018795][QUOTE=Marie33;1017960]

Hi Marie,
I am just getting used to this site and these posts. I just tried to post under the Lyrica Withdrawal Forum, but I am not sure where the post went.

Yes, it is Lyrica that I am withdrawing from. I was on 300mg at bedtime. I will try and figure out how to do these posts properly so that I can continue my own journey of withdrawal. I have found the posts of others very helpful, but sure don't look forward to feeling like this for months.

It makes me quite angry that Dr's don't seem to know about the severity of the withdrawal symptoms, and neither does the drug company manufacturing this drug. It is so wrong. I have not found any information on the incidence of withdrawal symptoms. So 10% of people go through this? or do 90% of people go through this.

I wish you well in your own journey. I hope that you will be one of the people who does not go through withdrawal.

Take good care

Hi D
Thanks for responding. Are you still withdrawing fro Lyrica? How are you feeling now? You said you were on 300 mgs at night wow that seems like a lot of med at one time. I take 100 3xday. Unfortunately its not doing much.How long were you on it for? and why are you getting off it. Do you have a "backup" med for your pain? Did it cause your hair too fall?
Hope your doing OK!

Thanks
Marie
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Old 10-06-2013, 10:04 AM #17
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Default Me too

Well at least I know why I'm sick as a dog... I have been on Lyria for more than 5 years for fibromyalgia. In general it has worked very well for me, although not as much in the past year. I've had more breakthrough flares.
About 4 months ago I developed what is currently diagnosed as an atypical neuralgia that makes it nearly impossible for me to talk. It has ruined my life. As my job involved tons of talking, I have been on medical leave for the past 8 weeks. Finally ended up with a neurologist who is attempting to treat the problem. He prescribed Trileptal, and had me taper off the Lyrica. Because I had researched withdrawal, I was expecting some problems. Right. Down from 450mg to 150mg, within 2 weeks. That was not so bad. Then he said to stop.
Not.

Symptoms include:
Nausea
Profuse sweating
Depression
Lethargy
Itching
Chills
Crying

I will call him in the morning and insist the taper be done more slowly. In the meantime I'm just going to take a pill.
The good news is that my neuralgia is better. Not gone, but better.
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Old 10-15-2013, 06:28 PM #18
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Default

you are so right about the horrors of this drug. I just posted my story, but I am new to this forum, to forums in general, so I hope you can find it.
I am ^ months into withdrawal after only taking 100-150 mgs. daily for 3+ months and still not right.
how can this drug be legal? and why aren't doctors aware of the dangers.
and they were so worried about 10 mg.s of oxycodone for my pain. that withdrawal/side effects was nothing compared to lyrica.
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Old 10-17-2013, 09:22 AM #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by triviafriend View Post
Hi everyone...I know that there have been several threads posted by members who are dealing with difficult withdrawal symptoms caused by Lyrica. However I believe that it's time to start recording the experiences of those suffering, so we can understand which symptoms occur commonly. Many people going through withdrawal are shocked by how sick they have become. Doctors and healthcare workers often don't know, or don't believe that stopping Lyrica can be the cause of so much misery. As terrible as it sounds, Doctors often react with anger or frustration when a patient complains of suffering because they don't want to assume any responsibility or accept any blame for prescribing something that makes a patient so sick. "You must be imagining things, or even lying or exaggerating,because this drug does NOT cause this level of withdrawal!"...Well, we know better.

I was prescribed Lyrica for RSD, 450mg per day. I made the mistake of running out when my pharmacy was closed. I became so sick that I was unable to get out of bed for more than two weeks. I was unaware that Lyrica caused withdrawal, so much so that I thought I had the flu! My husband picked up my prescription by chance one day, while having his own prescription filled, and brought it home. I was blown away to find myself completely well within an hour of taking my regular dose. Then and there, I made the decision that I would stop taking the drug. I had found the side effects horrific anyway, with the weight gain, mental foginess and emotional deadness I had been experiencing while on Lyrica. I began a taper immediately.

I started reducing my Lyrica by 25mg every 10 days to two weeks. It was rough, especially when I went down in dosage, and it took days to feel even marginally better. Still, I stuck it out, beginning in January 2013, and finally finishing in July of the same year. A long, slow taper, I know, but I went as fast as I felt I could, enough to keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay so I could function. Many have found, like I did, that quitting cold turkey was virtually impossible, due to the fact that the terrible illness of withdrawal would just go on and on, never getting any better. I've heard of people sick for months while going through Lyrica withdrawal.

Reading about the experiences of others going through what I was going through was an enormous comfort to me. It made me feel that I wasn't crazy, that I was one of many who had been taken in by promises of pain relief without fear of addiction or withdrawal (that's what I was told!). The following is a list of the symptoms that I experienced during withdrawal from Lyrica. I encourage everyone to add your experiences to this thread as well. Believe me, there are lots of people suffering right now who will visit this sight and be comforted with the knowledge that they are not alone!

LYRICA WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

Exhaustion, coupled with insomnia (horrible combination)
Depression
Crying jags
Rage
Extreme episodes of sweating
Chills
Inability to regulate temperature
Headache
Nausea
Stomach pain (often described as stabbing pain)
Severe Anxiety
Restless Leg Syndrome
Body aches
Muscle contractions
Vision problems
Suicidal ideation
Difficulty breathing (hard to take deep breath)
Lack of desire to socialize in any way
Mood swings

I know that more symptoms exist, and I hope that you will add your own experiences to this thread. Only by bringing this terrible issue forward will we ever convince anyone...Doctors, health-care workers or Pfizer itself to do something about the irresponsible way that this drug has been fed to us all, and force them to take measures to at the very least inform the public of the risks that taking Lyrica bring.

Trivia, thanks for your post...very helpful as I am currently tapering but I was only on 100-125mg daily but for 4 or5 yrs.

You covered most symptoms and I can only add:
- Heart palpitations and chest pressure and jaw pain
- Language issues...using wrong words or slurring or stuttering
- Uneven gait, clumsy(I seem to misjudge corners in my home and walk into them like I am drunk).

I do agree that withdrawal is more difficult than expected and I have gone off all my pain meds twice before, including oxycontin. I did try to get off lyrica about a yr ago but was not prepared. This time I have joined a health club that has sauna and jacuzzi and warm pool. I find exercise difficult but am forcing myself to swim slowly and sit in sauna to get rid of toxins. I also hired a friend to help me food shop and make large glasses of veggie juice each day and I am eating really well. I don't know if Lyrica also suppresses endorphins like opiates do but, I know you are supposed to do things to help kick endorphins back into gear like listening to happy music...dance around a bit if you can manage...watch funny movies...cuddle with your loved ones or pets(my cats are amazingly sensitive to my situation, it is just uncanny!)

Now this is personal and off track a bit, but, I am doing some soul searching and my pain doc has always emphasized stress makes pain worse. I have identified some issues in my life that bother me the most and I am working on those...like reaching out to siblings I am estranged from and forgiving folks for hurt to me, etc. It is cathartic.

I wish you all well as you try to get off lyrica. My advice is very slow and steady.
My doc lets me use Lorazepam to help with withdrawal symptoms and because this has also kicked my BP into overdrive, I can use Clonidine which also helps with wd symptoms.

Take care, D
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Old 10-17-2013, 06:07 PM #20
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Default Heart Palps and chest pressure from Lyrica withdrawal?

just wanted to know if others had chest pain or heart palpitations from Lyrica withdrawal. I know my BP is up but this feels more like it is caused by withdrawal since it came with many of the symptoms that Trivia listed.
Thanks, Diandra
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