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08-28-2014, 11:24 AM | #51 | |||
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Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
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...Welcome.
Your symptoms & experiences sound very much like what my DW has been going/gone through (it's ongoing, but we believe the worst is now behind us). She tapered off of an SSRI this past spring after being on it for several years for fibro, neck pain, & job stress. For months after being off of it completely, she was still suffering with vertigo, the emotional rollercoaster, pain... At first, we thought it was SSRI discontinuation syndrome. SSRI Discontinuation or Withdrawal Syndrome Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome She tried treating it with supplemental L-tryptophan (You can find info on this on the web or in the archives here), which did (and does) help, but only to a point. The vertigo was adversely affecting her ability to function in day to day activities, so she saw an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist) who suggested it may be silent migraine, which she may have had right along since meno, but the symptoms were being alleviated/masked by the SSRI. She then embarked upon an elimination diet to rebalance her system and begin identifying "triggers" that can cause this type of migraine and the symptoms that accompany them. Since then her improvement has been dramatic. Instead of having one good day in ten, she now has (approximately) one bad day in ten. Of course I can't say this is what you're going through, but if any of it sounds reasonable to you, it might be worth bringing up with your doctor and pursuing. If it can't hurt to try it, then it can't hurt to try it. Best wishes, Doc PS: FWIW... Lyrica (pregabalin) and Cymbalta (duloxetine) are both now generic. Their prices may not have come down appreciably yet, but should within the next year or so; insurance companies should be less averse to covering them. I mention this only in the event that they were of some benefit and you felt taking one/both was/were in your best interest.
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Dr. Zachary Smith Oh, the pain... THE PAIN... Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE. All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor. Last edited by Dr. Smith; 08-28-2014 at 11:40 AM. |
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08-30-2014, 06:18 AM | #52 | ||
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Junior Member
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Wow. I could have written this exactly. I am so shocked this drug is being prescribed without doctors knowing about this terrible withdrawal symptom profile. I had taken Lyrica for over 10 years and before that Gabapentin for 6 years. The nerve pain from brain tumour surgery is still with me but I am going to try to live with it as I never want anything like Lyrica again. The thing that helped me most was steaming hot baths. The aches and pains all over was/is unbearable. A heat wheat bag has been my best friend. Finally off Lyrica 28 days now.
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Hockey (09-12-2014) |
08-30-2014, 09:35 PM | #53 | ||
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Junior Member
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Lyrica Withdrawal Syndrome is similar to Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome from Benzodiazepines. Severe-nerve pain in legs, balance & gait disturbances, nausea, depression. Moderate-anxiety & also a lack of care for myself, heavy limbs like walking with concrete, felt like I was drunk, loss of mental clarity, lethargy. Mild-difficulty swallowing & breathing, rapid heart & breathing rate, headache, blurred vision, confusion, lack of bladder & bowel control, urinary frequency, personality changes, suicidal thoughts, trouble hearing, tinnitus & more
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09-11-2014, 07:45 PM | #54 | ||
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I too am trying to reduce or eliminate Lyrica from my regime of medications. My side effects (on the med) include edema in my leg and hand (left side), which did not exist to the degree it does now prior to this medication. I suffer from neuropathy that appears to have been caused by a bruise in my spinal cord (myelomalacia).
The symptoms began as some numbness and tingling, but the real pain started after I had a Myelogram (lumbar) procedure, which was to seek out the impingement that was believed to be causing pain in my left leg. The nerve pain after this procedure was unbearable. After a neurologist suggested I have an MRI of my neck (which never bothered me before this procedure), it was discovered that I had several disks migrating into my cervical spine area. It was also the first time they noticed a bruise on my spinal cord. I quickly had a multilevel fusion (ACDF) in c4.5, c5.6 and c6.7 to prevent my spinal cord from being severed, or further compromised. I was EXTREMELY active before my Myelogram procedure (rock climbing in Yosemite, surfing, biking, etc...) The Neurontine I was prescribed did not seem to quell the pain. I was subsequently given Lyrica, which seems to have cause edema in my left leg, causing further pain in my foot (which I never had before the drug) as well as burning in my hands and arms. I am now taking 150MG of Lyrica, reducing 75MG every week. It may be too fast as the nerve pain is creeping up again. I am going to look into PeaPure, which was mentioned earlier in this post. |
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09-19-2014, 10:26 AM | #55 | |||
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Junior Member
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After starting this thread, and finally managing to put Lyrica behind me, I moved on, feeling oh so much healthier and happier. I checked back and saw the additional posts and wanted to tell all of you still suffering that there is hope. You will eventually be able to break free from the nightmare of Lyrica, but it will take time, if you want to get through it with the least discomfort.
My biggest issue with cold turkey or tapering too fast is that Lyrica can cause withdrawal issues that linger for months with no decrease in levels of symptoms. As terrible as an opiate withdrawal is, it lasts a week or two, with symptoms decreasing daily. You can actually TELL you are getting better. Not so with Lyrica. Even after my very long taper was over and i was off the drug, I continued to have drenching cold sweats for months, although eventually these left me too. If your Doctor tells you that your withdrawal symptoms are all in your head, all I can tell you is FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR. This is very real, horribly uncomfortable and altogether unpleasant. Taper slowly, be committed to getting off the drug, and be good to yourself. Triviafriend
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"Thanks for this!" says: | PamelaJune (09-23-2014) |
09-22-2014, 10:39 PM | #56 | ||
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Newly Joined
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Quote:
thanks for the great post on how to deal with these symptoms. I just wanted to ask about GABA, how safe it is to use to help with anxiety,depression and are you still taking them? Do these amino acids also have a withdrawal symptoms? Also, did GABA affect your memory, intelligence in any way. I realized that Lyrica interfered with my short term memory while I was on it. Again, thank you for the great post. It has helped me tremendously. cheers, robs246 |
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09-23-2014, 12:37 AM | #57 | |||
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How are you doing? Wel, I hope. Diandra |
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09-23-2014, 10:07 AM | #58 | |||
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Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
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You can find more answers to your questions (and more info) in the archives. For starters, type GABA in the Keyword(s): window, select Search Titles Only from the drop-down menu; Show Results as Threads. You may already know, but please be careful not to confuse GABA with gabapentin—they are not the same thing. (Some people refer to gabapentin as 'gaba', which can be confuse/mislead others). Doc
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Dr. Zachary Smith Oh, the pain... THE PAIN... Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE. All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor. Last edited by Dr. Smith; 09-23-2014 at 04:01 PM. Reason: typo |
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09-23-2014, 01:05 PM | #59 | ||
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Grand Magnate
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Welcome robs246.
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Kitt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It is what it is." |
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01-01-2015, 10:04 PM | #60 | ||
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I have been on Lyrica for 4 years for pain after a massive spinal surgery. I was up to 300 mg at night (it helped me sleep) and once the doctor took me off all opoids, he DOUBLED the dose to 600 mg. I have never taken more than 400, regardless of his instructions.
I am going to start taking ONE 200 mg tab at night for a month or so. Then, I'll have to start opening the capsules and skim off a little until I'm down to 100 for a month or so. After that, I will tell the Dr. to prescribe a small amount and that I want off. My visit today? He put me off all Lyrica and wants me on Gabapentin. He says it is less expensive and will give me the same benefits. After reading this thread, I want nothing to do with these drugs. I have to have another massive spinal surgery at the end of February where I'll be in Hospital for at least 3 weeks with patient pain button (push the button and you get a dose). I think I'll quit Lyrica then. After all, I'll be on all these opoids that should help mask the Lyrica withdrawal symptioms. OMG I haven't been able to figure out where the weight gain came from, the ringing in my ears, the blurry vision, loss of memory, etc. Now I know and I'm furious! (and scared). Isn't there a way too sue somebody, something for not disclosing withdrawal problems? I realize that doesn't help you get through the process but I just went through a year long process to get off opoids and now have to do it all over again with Lyrica. I'm keeping a "drug log" from now on, recording what I take and when. Plus how I feel It will be a diary of sorts. I hope it helps in this journey to get off this damn drug!! |
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