Lyrica Addiction

[nickylynn]

Hi, i have a question: Does any one out there have a problem with lyrica? Im 24, weigh 96 pounds and take 750 mg per day. I feel i cannot function without it ( and i do not have a real medical need to be on it anymore ) and keep finding myself uping my dosage because of my cravings. So in other words im addicted to it. I have read up on it and most of my findings say lyrica is not addicting, but for me i get a stoned feeling from it. I was just wondering if any one else has had this problem and if so how did they stop it??

[clean_in_ks]

Welcome to the forum.....even tho this thread that you have posted on is a very old thread....it still has some valuable feedback within.  If you want to read some more information,  read about other's personal experience w/Lyrica, get some feedback, etc. here's more information for you to read and consider:  (this link is ALSO an old one, but in my mind's eye...that doesn't make it "untrue" or irrelevant....it actually helped me

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/HELP-Im-in-Hell-coming-off-Lyrica-Has-anyone-on-here-ever-got-off-it/show/1225679

If you want to generate some current feedback for yourself or ask a question, it would be more beneficial for you to go to the top of the page, hit the orange "post a question" button and start a new thread that will be exclusively started by you and more current forum participants will respond to you there.

Lyrica can be a very controversial subject for some.....I have had it recommended to me, researched it, posted on the forum about it......stepped majorly on some toes here....backed off and made my own personal decision NOT to go on it.  Of course, we all are different, we are all affected by side effects differently, but during my research, I was trying to find one....just one bloomin rx medication that would not be loaded w/side effects, warnings to addicts in recovery, etc. that I could take and actually feel ok about taking.  My personal choice, particularly after reading this old thread you posted on and the one I referenced for you....was nope....that wasn't the drug for me.  To each his own.....I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time finding help and answers.....only YOU will know what is right for you~

Blessings to you on this journey~

[troyk623]

Well,this *****. I have severe periphial neuropathy brought on by an under active thyroid that apparently went undiagnosed for years. I found out from my neurologist that my family doctor had only been testing my blood for cholesterol and diabetes for years because of my weight,despite the fact that I told him I was not a drinker or a junk food eater. When I visited him after the neurologist tested my blood for hormone levels and said I needed to be put on synthroid he turned to me and said 'maybe that's why you've had trouble losing weight' . Never in my life did I have the urge to punch somebody in the face that badly. Instead I said 'yea,I went to a doctor who finally tested my blood for something other than diabetes'.
The neurologist put me on Lyrica and I was relieved to finally be on something that relieved the pain and was not a narcotic like codeine or oxy. I only experienced a slight feeling of 'heightened well being' for the first 2 days. I'm taking 100mg in the morning and 100mg at night. I thought the advantage to taking lyrica (according to my doctor) was that it was a non narcotic alternative. Now I'm reading that it is a controlled substance that can be abused and cause serious withdrawal symptoms.
I am losing my faith in all doctors

[my_mayberry]

lyrica is a controlled substance...C-V...the lowest form. i've never heard of anyone being addicted to it, though there is the potential, obviously. i'm glad you posted here. i've often seen this drug dismissed as not being addicting, but the potential is there.

i've heard it's very similar to gabapentin, but stronger...gabapentin is not a controlled substance. i've always wondered why since they are so similar. then again, fioricet is not a controlled substance, and yet it contains the same type of barbiturate as amytal...a C-II, and their effects are VERY similar. so, i've learned not to rely soley on schedule's...there is a tincture of opium that's only a C-III. Pentobarbital (nembutal) used to come in a formulation with an ergot that wasn't scheduled. Soma's active metabolite is Miltown, one of the most abused drugs of all time, and yet it isn't scheduled. Primidone, which metabolises into phenobarbital is also not scheduled.

[taperme]

Nicky-I am so sorry that you have had to deal with this. It isn't right. But you need to be here for your girls and getting off of the lyrica is a must in order to do that. Do you think you will be able to talk to your doctor about this? And would you want to see someone like a therapist to help you figure this out? You are so young and have your whole life in front of you...why would you stay with someone who is so abusive and cheats on you? Nobody deserves that. Please keep posting.

[nickylynn]

Well he used to be very abusive emotionally and physically. He slammed my head into the corner of an oak futon and cracked my skull. I was in a drug induced coma for 3weeks and he did 5years with 2 suspended in prison. But hes done a 180 in that department. He does still control my activities but no longer hits me or yells at me and has become a really good father figure for our girls. Sadly on xmas day i found out he was cheating on me using craigslist. He was meeting all types of women on there including a 16 year old girl he had sex with behind the dmv . Ive been completly devastated. Its like i watched my whole world crumble apart. I would rather he beat me than cheat on me. To me this is the worst kind of pain to endure. And thats also part of the pill problem i have right now. I just dont know if i can face reality. I worry about what i could do to myself. My mental state gets very fragile at times and i dont want to die. I have beautiful little girls that i owe the world to and more. I just wish i could get out of this slum and be norma

[SHELLBELL79]

Your welcome Nicky! Anytime! I sent you a PM a lil while ago. I am almost 3 weeks and its slowly getting better!

[taperme]

I don't know enough about lyrica to help you to make a plan to taper off of it. You need to talk to your doctor about this, ASAP. This is your life and health that you are dealing with. I am sure your doctor will have seen this before and know how to help you with this part of your life. But it sounds like you have other issues to deal with as well. Shellbelle is right...you can talk to us. But I would really recommend a therapist or counselor to help you figure out why you are married to someone who doesn't allow you to have friends. That isn't right and it isn't healthy to not have friends. Does your husband control other behaviors?

[nickylynn]

No i dont have anyone to talk to, i usually just write stuff down, kinda helps me put it in perspective and i do chat a little bit with people on facebook but thats about it.
As far as the Lyrica i have been takeing it for a little over 2 years but was on a really low dose just up until a couple months ago. I was originally prescribed 75mg 2 times a day for migraines. Then about 2months ago i went in to get my script renewed and for some reason the dose was uped to 150mg 2 times a day and instead of saying anything i just took it. Thats when i really started having the problems with it. Being an ex addict my body was quick to jump on it so i started upping my own dose. It gave me a  stoned feeling and let me forget about all the pain in my life. But now its gotten to the point that i just have to take more and more. I find that when i up it over 750 mg i have trouble breathing so i tend to keep it in that range. One side effect that has concerned me is its causeing major bloating in my stomache. I look like im pregnant.
And SHELLBELLE: thank you for the friendship offer, that was very kind and sweet of you. Its nice to know that there are still good people out there. How long have you withdrwls been going on?

[SHELLBELL79]

Ok Nicky, well we are your new friends! You need to know that you can not go CT off the Lyrica...it will cause you to have a serious seizures even if you never had them..and especially at your dose! If Im doing this, believe me you can! It really $ucks and takes long to get off but it doesn get better! I live with chronic pain and other serious medical issues and Im not even addicted or dependent on lyrica and Im having horrible w/ds! You can do it! You just need to come to us for support! We are here for you!!!

[taperme]

Do you have anyone that you can talk to? Your doctor? It sounds like you could use some support for a variety of issues. How long have you been taking the lyrica? Was it prescribed, and if so at the level that you are taking? If you can give a little more information we can be more helpful.

[nickylynn]

Yeah my husbands always been weird like that, he doesnt like me talking to people. It kinda ***** but ive learned to live with it. To be honest its been so long that i dont know how to make friends. I guess its kinda like he trained me

[vicki595]

Hi~  Is someone stopping you from having friends?

Vicki

[sterling_silver]

What do you mean, your not allowed to have friends? Everyone needs friends!!

[nickylynn]

I know i need to quit soon as you are right that the longer i am on it the harder it will be. I dont have any family and have never been aloud to have friends so i will be doing it on my own. I guess it all comes down to will power. If i really want to quit i know i can succeed, i guess the fear of facing the day without it kind of holds me back.
" Fear is ones greatest enemy"

[avisg]

you cant wait for another pill the longer you stay on it the harder it will be to get off it .Is there anyone that could help you taper ? hold the pills for you .I dont think you want to CT off it

[nickylynn]

Thank you all for your responces, I have tried tapering but find the cravings to much to continue. Im hopeing that maybe they make another pill to kind of step you down. I guess the only thing to do is to talk to my dr, but kind of hesitate to do that because im afraid he will think im an addict and when i really do need something for pain he wont give it to me.....
Not to be on a pitty party but im just so tired of the constant struggle with addiction. I take 7 medications a day and worry that one day i will go to sleep and never wake up. I guess Im scared I wont be able to face what my life has become with out some kind of med to make it ok.

[worried878]

i had a friend who abused lyrica...she would take up to 12 75 mg pills a day....it caused her to bloat pretty bad and her face looked swollen when she abused. it..which was usually when she was out of everything else...she slurred when she took this drug..do I always knew when she was on a lyrica binge
it can be a drug of abuse...but is not known to be physically addicting...she always said there were no physical wds..mental wds are the hard part tho
not a safe drug per say for an addict to take as it produces a high
Can sumpin a person is mentally addicted to be tough to stop..most would say Yes

[SHELLBELL79]

Hey! Wow that is a very high dose! I was never addicted to lyrica and it didn't even work for me! I am on my 3 rd week of having weird, hellish withdrawals from weaning off the lyrica! I know and read that their is a chance of being addicted if taking in really high doses. You need to go see your doctor immediately and tell him the true about how much your taking and that your addicted. You need to wean down slowly! If you need any help just PM me!

[avisg]

yup there is another member shellbell she just came off of it said the wds are very hard .I would taper down and get off it as fast as you can ...