Lyrica Withdrawals Winging Off (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I'm wanting to hear from anyone who has winged off of lyrica after so many mths taking it. I have had it with the med. I've gained 35 lbs in 4 mths. I never gain wt. I have sever numbness in hands and feet and swolleness. It's scary! I ran out one time with out getting refill, though I'd just stop it and start another tx. Well very wrong. I got so sick. I was having withdrawels and I had to get back on it. At the time it was worth getting back on it quickly to feel better. Plus the other side effects hadn't kicked in yet and not so severely. I'm worried it will be difficult to get off of it.

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Hello - I am a fellow LYrica user for nerve pain in my lower back. it works for my pain, but I tried to stop taking it, due to the cost. When I stopped, I got very sick, like the flu, with a horrible headache !!! Then I realized it was the lyrica. I got a refill and took my pill, and immediately I was well again !!! I got scared and called my Dr. he said to wean off slowly. So I tried that - well that didn't work either. I didn't get as sick, but I got weak and tired. I had to be able to work, so I had to get back on the lyrica. Now I think I'm stuck with Lyrica the rest of my life. I'm with you - it's scary to be hooked on this drug. What is it doing to our brains? Plus that headache I got was severe. I don't know the answer.

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have you weaned off Lyrica??? I've tried and got really sick with severe headache.
How did you do it? I had weight gain too!!! I want to eat allot - which is not like me at all. It's gotta be the Lyrica!!! This drug is very addictive. Let me know how you got off of it.

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Iv gone without lyrica an tremadll for 3 weeks going through hell want to die. Doc give me extra suboxone. I NEED HELP

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I had been on lyrical and cymbalta for fibromylagia. After 5 years and lots of weight gain,other side effects and not helping with pain I decided to try weaning myself off. Of course with the doctor's ok. Imp now off of both but since decreasing for over 2 months I'm still having withdrawals. These have included headache-upset stomach-throwing up I've even stopped drinking coffee and drinking soda. I've lost about 20 lbs and my sense of smell seems better. I know I will feel better but not sure how much longer I have to go through this. Since the meds I was on quite working for the fibromylagia I Know it will get better. I have back surgery scheduled in 3 weeks so I. Want to b physically fit for it.

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Personally have you heard the old saying"don't walk run" same scenario just get off the med. I was always depressed had no desire to be here on earth gained weight couldn't talk half the time my mouth was so dry or totally forgot what I was thinking about, like I was stupid finally in March I did it suicide attempt hospitalized for 12 days I just recently found out all about lyrica get off it!

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Yes - I too tried to get off of Lyrica. SAme thing happened to me. Weight gain, appetite increased - no numbness though. when I tried to stop - I ran out too and got sick - like I had the flu and A HORRIBLE HEADACHE. So I went back on it and felt find. Now I take it for sciatica (nerve pain down leg) and it really helps my nerve pain. I talked to my Dr about getting off of it and he said it works so well on my nerve pain, to keep taking it. I think he is right, but I'd like to be able to run out of it and not worry about getting sick !!!! I don't know what to do. The drug does work for some. I'd talk to your Dr. show him the swelling.

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I was on this horrible drug for about 3-4 months. weight gain, swollen ankles, hands so numb they hurt in the mornings had to shake them awake, joint pain in the knees and in the feet so bad they would give out on me in the mornings when I first got up, brain fog, and I would practically have to give birth to be able to pee. I got off by switching straight over to an old prescription of gabapentin I had left. Its been two months now since stopping and slowly, very slowly things are improving. My feet still give out on me first thing in the mornings and my knees are a little better. My hands are not quite as numb when I wake up. The brain fog is gone. I am just worried that the damage is permanent. I was in the bathroom constantly peeing for about two days straight getting rid of all the fluid I retained on this drug. Now I am in the process of weaning off the gabapentin.

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Does it affect your bowel I am on it a couple of months and have terrible pain in my side doctors say its bowels

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Bad side effects for me - tired, headache, nausea, diahrrea, sleepy, weak, dizzy. headache ALL DAY!!! I've tried twice to get off of this drug and I can't do it. It's horrible. I can't function with this withdrawal. You get so sick. Like having a virus. I'm sleeping allot, but my head aches.

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Lyrica is difficult to get off of. I too gained weight and have drowsiness. I've tried twice to decrease my dose. I've gone from 150 mg/2X a day to 100 mg/ 2X a day. Did pretty well - had some withdrawal, but not bad. Headache, nausea, tired feeling. but once I dropped to 75 mg/2X a day - WOW - THE withdrawal would never end. I had the worse headache and felt bad for 2 weeks!!! I couldn't stand it any longer - went back to 100 mg/2X a day. I don't know how to get off this drug!!! I guess the decrease can only be maybe 10 mg at a time - but you are right, the withdrawal is horrific!!! They should take this drug off the shelves and tell patients how physically addictive it really is!!! If you find an answer, let me know.

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I was on 300mg Lyrica for four years and decided to come off it this past October. I felt I was like an addict. I got so sick with depression anxiety and panic attacks. Diarrhea for a month. I lost 27 lbs. I was in the ER for dehydration and severe nausea and gagging. I could not look at food nor eat. The family doctor put me on a very low dose of Ativan to help with the anxiety. I finally decided to go to a psychiatrist to help me overcome all this crap. I followed the withdrawal to a tee. I still have to get off 50mg by decreasing to 25mg once a day for a week. Now I know why people take their lives! Who would of thought this drug could do this to a person? I’m still struggling big time, driving is hard and going out isn’t easy either. I just want my life back and Pfizer sued!

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Re: ken372 (# 16)

I’ve searched all over Maryland for lawyers and found none after calling all over the state. Found out you don’t have to have a lawyer within the state you live in for a legal case. You can join one anywhere in the US, the problem is finding one.

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Hi, my name is Al. I had been taking 100-150 mg of Lyrica daily for nerve pain for about a year. I have a history of opiate dependency and had been feeling pretty good prior to this. After the year of taking it I decided to d/c the Lyrica one day. I didn’t feel any withdrawals, or so I thought. About 2 weeks into not taking it my whole head and different areas of my body started to itch really bad. My head feels at times that something is crawling all over my scalp. Different parts of my extremities feel like I am being bitten. I thought I had fleas or lice but couldn’t find any evidence of such things. Some days I would have panic attacks. I was waking up at night unable to sleep. I was convinced I had some type of infestation in my apartment. I even read articles about having eggs from bugs in my hair. I took pictures of my scalp with a magnifying download on my phone. Not finding anything. I also read an article about ways to kill the eggs. Prompting me to pour rubbing alcohol all over my head. To no avail. I didn’t want to say anything to anyone because I was afraid they would think I had lice. I am not a dirty person. But I was feeling pretty gross. It wasn't until a couple of hours ago that I was watching tv. A commercial for Lyrica came on. I immediately remembered about stopping the Lyrica. I went online and found some stories of similar side effects from withdrawals with Lyrica and other drugs. I went directly to my bottle of Lyrica and took 2. Whether or not that was the best idea or not, it was my best option. Can anyone relate to my situation? Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

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Re: Kathy (# 35)

Hi Kathy. My name is Jennifer. I have been on 300mg of Lyrica for I think two years, sorry my memory is gone, I tapered and took my last dose 2 days ago. I feel terrible. If you would like to talk I am here.

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Re: Judy (# 4)

I take 600mg a night. After approx 1 week, my body got used to it and it doesn't work so I have to stop! I totally stopped and have no withdrawal at all!

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Re: Cindy (# 3)

I never had issues getting off lyrica...as my doctor gave me gabapentin...works just as good!

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Re: Jennifer (# 38)

I’ve been off Lyrica for about 3 months now, finally. I started back in October, ended up in the ER for dehydration and nausea. I lost 33 lbs and I only weighed 125. Gained a few pounds back now that I can eat a little better. But I am suffering still with severe panic attacks and depression. I’m on Ativan (one daily) and olanzapine (one daily) and I’ve been using CBD oil which seems to help with anxiety. All I can say is Pfizer should make withdrawal symptoms known. I want to sue them so bad but can’t find a lawyer that will handle a civil lawsuit. I wonder when I will be me again?

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Re: Kathy C (# 41)

Hi Kathy. This is my third attempt to stop this horrid drug. It’s my last because I no longer belong to pain management. So no more. My only complaint is I can’t catch my breath and I’m real dizzy and NO energy. Sometimes I do feel “out of it” as well. Like is this really me, I hope that makes sense. I am so scared of what is to become. I took off work this week, it’s my last 40 hours of vacation. I just want my life back. I cold turkey off Percocet and klonopin but those were ok, but this Lyrica has me scared. I went to gp doctor and Er for help and they both turned me away, of course while billing me $700. I just don’t know where to turn anymore.

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Re: Kathy C (# 41)

Oh I also have lost about 30 pounds since tapering. Was at 190 now I’m 150. I was 130 when I started pain management. Weight gain and feeling drunk is what made me want to get off all these meds and the ability to not feel emotions anymore. My life had begun to spiral out of control.

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Re: Betty (# 20)

I am also on Lyrica 50 mg. morning and 50 mg at night. Dr. increased it by 50mg at night. I had a bad reaction, swelling, confused, balance worse. Even my family thought I wasn't right. Reduced it back to 50mg at night. It has taken a while to get rid of headaches and balance is back to what it was. But it does help the pain, so I guess I'm a lifer at this level.

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