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Medications & Treatments For discussion about medications and treatments for any disease or health condition, including issues of medication toxicity. |
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09-08-2015, 01:55 AM | #1 | |||
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Hi there
I am a new member, though I have visited this site and this thread several times for advice, thank you to all who have posted. I have been on Lyrica for some time (maybe two years now? Before that I was on Neurontin) for radicular neuropathy down my leg and into my foot following a back and hip injury (repetitive stress from teaching preschool). I am on 450mg/day. I have tried to get off the Lyrica many times in the past year and it has been quite the roller coaster. Most of the time I have tried going off it has been due to not getting prescriptions refilled for various insurance BS reasons as I know many of you can relate to. The side effects and withdrawal symptoms are almost too numerous to list, essentially I literally feel as though I am dying when I try to go off, and I am depressed, disconnected and confused on it. I have a plan to try and taper off 75mg/month until I am free of it. My doctor, the only one I am able to see after months of no doctor, refuses to assist with the side effects, such as prescribing an SSRI, and as it is workers comp my primary care doc will also not help, so I am on my own. It is a scary drug; I have been on and off many meds throughout my life but none compare to the roller coaster that is Lyrica. I mostly take over the counter meds to help, such as Benadryl for the withdrawal (a huge help!), but it is scary how much this drug messes with my mind, my balance, my life. Reality and dreams seem intermingled, my pain becomes overwhelming, and I feel that I am slowly losing touch with who I am. I do not work or even drive, and though initially I blamed my injury for that, I now think a lot of it has to do with the Lyrica. I appreciate any advice and/or support while going through this. I am scared, though my life has been anything but easy, this is the hardest thing I have ever gone through. My docs' main suggestion is to switch to Topomax, but that just seems like more of the same problem. My goal is to be med free, though last time I was I was bedridden with pain. I just want my brain and my life back. I have lots of gaps in my memory, I lose time frequently, like a black out with no recognition of what happened. It is intensified with alcohol (and much easier to binge drink on it) so I will be avoiding that completely until I am off the meds, and maybe even after. I wish I had figured out the connection sooner, but many of the problems with Lyrica took some time for me to be aware of. My vision comes and goes, has anyone found anything that helps with the vision probs associated with Lyrica? I know many of you are suffering through similar issues, and I am grateful for this website. Here's hoping we all make it though this. _________________ "I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?" -Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland |
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09-08-2015, 11:30 AM | #2 | |||
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I hope today is a better day.
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09-08-2015, 03:16 PM | #3 | |||
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That last was a response to Marie33, I am still learning how to use the forums . . .
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01-11-2016, 02:43 AM | #4 | ||
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Quote:
It will be two years next week since I went off lyrica. I am still having all the symptoms I started with. Most are a bit less but not all. Life has changed and not for the better at least for now. I am still, with my doctors help, working on reducing my symptoms. I am very careful of all meds RX or OTC since almost all give me severe side effects While I am mentally more alert, aware and happier then last year, my body is not much better. My RLS is day and night as well as involving my whole body sometimes, sleeping is hard I no longer try at night and wait until morning, less stress that way. The mental problems I got AFTER going off lyrica still come and go, but not every day a different problem. The first year off this drug my mind did funny things. Not to the point of needing to fix anything because within 3 days it would be gone and replaced by something else. I have come to the conclusion that for some of us the damage is permanent. From your list these are the ones I had and/or still have: Exhaustion, coupled with insomnia Depression Crying jags (Tears can help detox the brain I've heard. It did reduce other stmptons) Rage (among a host of other emotional problems much better now) Extreme episodes of sweating (had now just "Hot Flashes" no hormone problem) Chills Inability to regulate temperature Headache (had) Nausea (Thank God this one has been gone for a year) Stomach pain (often described as stabbing pain) (had. forgot about this one) Severe Anxiety (had) Restless Leg Syndrome (extreme) Body aches Muscle contractions Vision problems (No to this one) Suicidal ideation (still but understanding why helps. I ran into a lady on Lyrica 1 month 9 months latter she still had this) Difficulty breathing (hard to take deep breath) (hard to take a breath sometimes body kinda locks up) Lack of desire to socialize in any way (may be part of depression but I know what you are talking about.) Mood swings Babbling (nonsense sounds without any meaning This happens as my symptoms start to escalate.) Temporary mental illness . (like going to crazy town and visiting every address for a few hours to 3 days) This did give me a lot of understanding that sometimes behavior is in the brain and not under the control of a person. Once i stopped freaking out, about 2 weeks into it, I found it interesting servere loss of appetite. (had) Rebound pain (for 9 months) Mental Fog Good luck |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | eva5667faliure (03-15-2016), PamelaJune (01-11-2016), PurpleFoot721 (03-15-2016), triviafriend (02-08-2018) |
01-11-2016, 01:46 PM | #5 | ||
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N/A
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Every time I see the lyrica tv ad I could scream, but I mute and close my eyes. I don't know anyone personally who has ever taken it so I can't know their experiences... how they can still push it and people trust their doctors is beyond my mindset. I know there is a class action suit re: lipitor, maybe so with lyrica...don't know.
You mention RLS, is that your main issue? Have you researched alternatives for RLS. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Kathryn55pearson (01-25-2016) |
03-14-2016, 02:09 PM | #6 | |||
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Thought I should post an update on my withdrawal in case it will help others dealing with this madness. I am still trying to titrate down, now at 25mg/month. It's still the hardest thing I've ever done, and the side effects and withdrawal symptoms are the same. I am on a low dose of Effexor to manage some of the withdrawal depression, anxiety and rage, but it doesn't help much. The crying jags and depression are one thing, the suicidal ideation is another. I wish there was some way to stop it but so far no luck, and it is very draining. The other symptoms, stomach pain, headaches, spasms, being tired etc. are uncomfortable but not as scary as the psychological side effects. I am terrified to think that some of these symptoms may be permanent. may the odds be ever in all of our favors.
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03-15-2016, 07:36 AM | #7 | |||
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Grand Magnate
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As I am coming off Xanax It is not the drug being the point for Just the simple fact You speak of the "Residual" Benzodiazepines that's another drug that takes a very long time Sometimes permanent damage Supporting what you wrote Thank you For your experience Strength And hope Me
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"Thanks for this!" says: | PurpleFoot721 (03-15-2016) |
05-03-2016, 04:45 PM | #8 | ||
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Junior Member
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Hi guys
I was on Lyrica 300mg twice a day for about six years, I wanted to come off of it because my eyesight was getting worse and a pharmacist said that can be caused by Lyrica. So I dropped to 225mg in the morning and 300mg at night and 2 weeks later took 225mg twice a day for 2 weeks and slowly stepped down like that, I'm now on 100mg twice a day and have been for about 6 weeks but I feel so unwell, I'm sweating for no reason, I hurt like crazy and I keep getting stabbing pains in random places on my lower half and that includes my under carriage. I have planned to stop on this dose, my wife wants me to go back up to 150mg but I don't want to go backwards. How long will it take for my body to level out?
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My motto If it hurts, you're still alive! |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | triviafriend (02-08-2018) |
06-02-2016, 08:48 AM | #9 | ||
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Junior Member
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I ended up down to 100mg twice a day and I felt so unwell, but I stuck with it as I thought it would get easier, it didn't!
So I went back up to 150mg twice a day, i feel more human again and it is still half the original dose, the plan is to stick at this dose for six months and then try again
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My motto If it hurts, you're still alive! |
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03-18-2019, 05:24 PM | #10 | |||
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I tried Pregabalin for just over 1 month. It would've been shorter, had I not started tapering from 4 pills (300mg daily) per day for 2 weeks +. It's been nearly 2 months since I've not taken any Pregabalin pills. I still have tinnitus and hearing problems, visual snow & disturbances, I'm sensitive to light now, extreme anxiety, suicidal ideation (where I DON'T WANT TO DIE, I just can't stop thinking about it whereas before I didn't have this, OCD morbid thoughts.. again, didn't have this before. I feel like I'm going crazy every day. I can't focus on my dreams and goals, and the main reason I keep going is that I'm hoping I'll heal eventually and I want to make my girlfriend as happy as I can. I'm now thinking I might have to resort to SSRIs as the anxiety prevents me from work or studying. I've lost so much in such a short span. Life is not enjoyable when all the good moments are filled with a big dose of fear. At least the physical symptoms stopped a while back. I couldn't sleep at all for the first few nights. I was prescribed a benzodiazapene, but even that didn't really help so I stopped after 5 nights. I feel depersonalized/derealized quite often, like all of this is just a bad dream. I have trouble regulating temperature, but it was way worse. I'd get full body chills. I had near psychosis, and was so scared to go outside. I feared public transport and other people. I was experiencing some weird electric shock type feeling in my left upper leg. |
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