Hi Mia and welcome to NT!

I don't know about doctors taking folks off Lyrica cold turkey because they think we're strong souls. I think it has more to do with arrogance, stupidity and just plain not giving a tinker's damn.

Compared to Jackie, I got off lightly. I only broke off a bunch of teeth crunching down during the seizures.

Cheers

Hello,
I had come off Lyrica in December (5 weeks in cut backs) after using it for 4 years. When on max dosage Lyrica with Tramadol I fell alot. No more lower back pain and the neuroma in my right foot feels better. I'm on Methadone 10mg twice a day ( 2 years). Not as much dry mouth and the white scabs on my arms are starting to disappear. Lyrica worked great but recently my legs would get very stiff and spasm when sleeping. I first took neurotin and it lost its effect when on high dosage. My biggest problem is constipation as I have other issues. The pain is in the 3-4 range and the flareups have ceased. Looking forward to warm weather as I get around better. Bye Bye Lyrica

Hi all, I'm interested in hearing others stories on quitting Lyrica and more so on how long the withdrawal symptoms lasted. I have not quit completely as I'm on a low dose of 37.5mg (half of 75mg capsule) per day.

The method I'm using to quit is to remove the powder by about 4mg at a time...it's very slow but since I've been on the drug 2+ years I want to make sure that it's safe and to keep the symptoms to a minimum...

What do you guys think? Am I doing this too slow and just prolonging the agony? My main concern are seizures and although I don't have a seizure disorder the literature says that seizures can occur during w/d eve when the person has not suffered seizures before...can someone help with this? Maybe I'm being too careful, but you know the old saying "better safe than sorry"...

Thanks!

Edgar

Like Edgar, I am also interested in more feedback from others who have tapered off of Lyrica. I'm currently at 50mg capsules-3x a day. Would I be OK to start with dropping to 2x a day for a month or so, then down to 1 and so on?

The brain fog, dizziness and nausea are becoming too much at this point. I've only been on Lyrica for about 7 or 8 months.

I think it is rather appalling that the drug companies do not instruct doctors on how to taper off a drug. We see all sorts of terrible reactions from SSRIs, SNRIs, tramadol, Neurontin, Lyrica, etc. The reason? They don't even know, I suspect!

The taper will have to be slightly different for each person. What I have read on the net is dizziness and extreme anxiety going off.
Some people report tapering during a week. I think that is too short a time for the brain to adjust. Since Lyrica is going for a FDA approval for anxiety, I'd follow a Benzo taper schedule for it. (Google Benzodiazepine taper and there are many).
Those typically take months, 3 months at least.

Those who don't have many side effects, going up on it, may not see a painful taper. However, many people probably would do best with a slow taper down.

The length of time you have taken Lyrica and the dose, will also factor into a taper. Higher doses over longer time need a slower taper. People only using it for a short time, may be able to get off it in a week or two (say if you only used it 3 mons).

So I don't think there is one answer that will apply to everyone. Sorry.

For the record, I typed in pregabalin taper into PubMed...no articles on how to do it.

There is a follow up on this. The fracture site was T4-T5 and a rib was displaced at the time. My recent visit to the ataxia clinic revealed that I have spinal cord lesions, hence my paralysis ( I believe T4 complete paraplegia). I have seen my GP about a Neuro visit re the paralysis, but have not yet heard anything about appointments. How can patients possibly trust doctors?

Amen to that Jackie!

Hi everyone, I've been on and off of this system of NT, but have finally gotten a chance to finally take a chill and read this stuff.
I just got put on Lyrica, but am seeming to do ok, but what about the weight gain issue. On an average how much weight has anyone gained that is/on this med. I started a month a go on 25mg 3X per day
can anyone relate to me???
I'm not on it for epilepsy though, I'm on it due to having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome = rare painful disorder which is degenerative

- How bad do you think that the pain will be from this level of medication
- what have been your experiences while getting off of this drug, were your dosages light or heavier
- Why did you stop taking Lyrica???
- I'm not on it for epilepsy though, I'm on it due to having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome = rare painful disorder which is degenerative
- I'm currently on 100mg 3X a day, how is the taper off of it, at what dosage levels?

*- How bad do you think that the pain will be from this level of medication

Pain is such a personal thing from person to person. It really varies

*- what have been your experiences while getting off of this drug, were your dosages light or heavier

I was on 150mg 2x a day. I have cut back so far to 150mg in the morning and 75mg at night (75mg increments is all I have available to me) I have experienced headaches, mood swings and anxiety so far.

*- Why did you stop taking Lyrica???

I decided to stop taking Lyrica because I was having side effects like amnesia, muscle weakness in my left arm and leg, a painful burning sensation in my face and difficulty finding words when talking.

*- I'm currently on 100mg 3X a day, how is the taper off of it, at what dosage levels?

Again, the taper is going to be unique to each person and depends on how long you have been on the med, what you are taking it for and so on. If you would like to get off of Lyrica I recommend asking your doctor for help tapering off.