I went on Lyrica at the beginning of the year and while soon after I was also started on Cymbalta and therefore it's hard to know which drug caused which side effects, the weight gain and memory loss were definitely the Lyrica. At one point I forgot where I lived. In combination with the Cymbalta I also totally lost my ability to enjoy sex and also started with severe sleep issues but none of that was as bad as having to come off both. I started having sleep paralysis (with weirder symptoms that I went into on the CRPS board in my sleep and sex thread), brain zaps, vertigo etc. None of that has gone away yet 3 months on. I wouldn't touch either ever again.

As for the weight loss it's even more important now as my usually relatively low BP is now pushing over 150/100. High BP runs in my family and my dad (fit, healthy, nonsmoker) had a massive stroke at 40 so I am very worried. The worry won't be helping either lol!

The nurse that did my BP the other day advised me to work out my basal metabolic rate to work out my calories for the diet. That is 1700 calories apparently and she said my intake would probably work out at 1000 a day to lose weight. Crikey. But still, I'm doing it. Also stopping smoking again tonight. I gave up for 4 years but it's scary what your son running away will lead you to do. I found ciggies in his stuff when we were looking for clues and that was it...stupid stupid stupid. Just been so bloomin stressful since then (he had a breakdown and is finally now getting help and being assessed for autism). See that's the thing for us with health problems, life and responsibilities don't go on pause for us to get better and we have to get on with it!

Wish me luck as my son and I are going to discuss the results of one of his assessments today and I feel sick so God knows how he feels xxx

I agree!