Thread: Lyrica withdrawal - anyone here have experiences?

A timely thread from my perspective. No - I haven't experienced Lyrica withdrawal - have only just been started on Lyrica a week ago. Initially, one tablet daily taken at night, but the dosage upped to twice daily as of this morning.

So far, no side effects. But after reading through this thread, I'm thinking that perhaps I should stop taking this medication before it becomes a problem.

I wasn't prescribed Lyrica for any pain. But I have been getting very severe pins & needles type feeling in both arms & both legs - to the point where the legs have been giving me so much grief that I was often not getting any sleep. For that issue, the Lyrica seems to be working. While I still have some feeling of pins & needles virtually all the time, the severity has reduced and I am now getting a decent night's sleep again.

I went to see a doctor more because the severe pins & needles in both arms and hands was one of the symptoms I experienced when I had a heart attack a while back, and this had me a bit worried. So at the moment, I'm on Lyrica and booked in for a CT Scan next week - maybe I need a second opinion.

Hope you manage to get off it OK Justin. I know from experience how difficult and unpleasant it can sometimes be trying to get away from some medications.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing for Lyrica (Pregabalin) is for "neuropathic pain refractory to other drugs."
Ie your doctor should have tried other drugs for nerve pain before prescribing Pregabalin.
Sadly, I see it prescribed first up, before other less nasty medications are utilised, and often for conditions other than neuropathic pain, and in escalating dosages. No wonder it doesn't work, and side effects are experienced.

in my personal experience, as I've been getting older, things wear out and I experience pain. Drugs might lessen the pain and discomfort, but they also lessen my experiences of life.

I'll do the physio, I'll cop the occasional local anaesthetic and steroid injection, I'll put up with pain and discomfort (as long as I know what's causing it), and I'll avoid as much as possible taking the mind bending pills potions and poisons.

That's my view on life.

Ron

Hi, Ive had a similar experience on gabapentin which is related i believe to pregabelin. I had to have it made up by a compound pharmacy and it took 14 months to get off. Be careful withdrawing from these type of drugs too quickly, the side effects can be appalling. You can risk having a seizure even if you are not prone to seizures. Dizziness and extreme panic attacks in my case. Consult your gp about this stuff. Good luck Steve

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Ohh thank god,

I misread the title and thought you were having Lycra withdrawals!!

I hadn't pictured you as a "MAMIL"

Sorry you are having a crap run, I truely hope it comes good quickly.

Cheers

That Lycra withdrawal can be quite a stretched out process.
Especially for a mamil.
Can give you a sensation like crawling around in your Skins.

Originally Posted by BMKal

A timely thread from my perspective. No - I haven't experienced Lyrica withdrawal - have only just been started on Lyrica a week ago. Initially, one tablet daily taken at night, but the dosage upped to twice daily as of this morning.

So far, no side effects. But after reading through this thread, I'm thinking that perhaps I should stop taking this medication before it becomes a problem.

I wasn't prescribed Lyrica for any pain. But I have been getting very severe pins & needles type feeling in both arms & both legs - to the point where the legs have been giving me so much grief that I was often not getting any sleep. For that issue, the Lyrica seems to be working. While I still have some feeling of pins & needles virtually all the time, the severity has reduced and I am now getting a decent night's sleep again.

I went to see a doctor more because the severe pins & needles in both arms and hands was one of the symptoms I experienced when I had a heart attack a while back, and this had me a bit worried. So at the moment, I'm on Lyrica and booked in for a CT Scan next week - maybe I need a second opinion.

Hope you manage to get off it OK Justin. I know from experience how difficult and unpleasant it can sometimes be trying to get away from some medications.

My honest opinion Brian is don't start it. I was ecstatic to be so pain reduced however the memory loss, and other unpleasant side effects has now taken over from ot to make me worried enough to try and get off it completely . I am down from 150mg twice a day to 100mg twice a day and that was pretty unpleasant although not undoable. Just weird headaches and some nausea and strange sleep problems. I was dreadfully concerned about my ability to work properly and was forgetting simple things, and the last straw was that i was having'white noise' in my head when faced with a stressful or confusing situation ; i would just be unable to think or even conduct a conversation . Please give careful consideration to looking for other pain relief Brian.

Jc

Originally Posted by digger

Ohh thank god,

I misread the title and thought you were having Lycra withdrawals!!

I hadn't pictured you as a "MAMIL"

Sorry you are having a crap run, I truely hope it comes good quickly.

Cheers

Hey thanks Digger i needed a larf!!! ☺

Jc ☺

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Justin.
It sounds like you are going to get cortisone injections in your back,Ive had them in the past,they are very good if you havent tried them before.
Get them to do your shoulder too at the same time.
Beware,after,you will feel like superman and its easy to undo the good the shots provide.Mine lasted 1 to 2 weeks,I should have taken it easy,perhaps they may have lasted longer.
GOODLUCK
Andrew

Hi mate yes the cortie was scheduled a while back but i chickened out and then my rotator cuff injury happened... so yeah i should get him to do both so i can get back to WORK!. The specialist is actually a surgeon, an anesthetist AND a Defender tragic☺ so he is pretty talented so I'm hoping for a good result.

Jc