Klonopin and Lyrica

My doctor gave me a script for Lyrica to treat my anxiety disorder.  I was taking 6mg a day of xanax then i just recently switched to 4mg. a day of Klonopin.  But she said in Europe the FDA approved Lyrica for anxiety treatment.  Its supposedly non addictive.  However reviews i have read, users complain of weight gain and increased appetite which my weight is one of my anxieties.  

Has anyone else tried Lyrica before for anxiety?  Its used here is in the US for fibromyalgia, but I took 2 and didn't feel anything so I'm not taking them.  

Any suggestions,  because I want to go up in my K-Pin dose but I have an addictive personality and my doctor knows that.  she doesn't want to increase my dose.  I don't even feel Klonopin in me at all.

[Heather3418]

I was given Lyrica for pain from Multiple Sclerosis, although it is mainly used for pain from Fibromyalgia. Lyrica was originally designed to treat the burning, stabbing, shooting symptoms of nerve pain caused by diabetes or shingles. The most common side effects are:

Dizziness
Sleepiness
Dry mouth
Swelling of hands and feet
Blurred vision
Weight gain
Trouble concentrating

My doctor titrated my dose gradually, starting at 50 mgs. a day, then within several weeks, up to 150 mgs. twice a day.  That's when I realized I could not take that high of a dose and had to withdraw slowly from the drug altogether.  I noticed NO relief from pain during those weeks of treatment.  I have never known it to be prescribed for Anxiety.  That's new information for me.

I take Klonopin-2 mgs. nightly for Restless Leg Syndrome, but notice that it does not decrease my anixety, if I happen to have anxiety.  (As I noticed I had, when my father passed away 3 months ago.)  Maybe I am a strange one.  I know that others use if for anxiety and it seems to help them..  

As my doctor explained to me, Lyrica has to be taken every day, gradually increasing the dosage until you hopefully see some relief from pain.  I have not known it to be used to take only when you are experiencing anxiety symptoms.  As I say, I have only known it to be a daily dosage for nerve pain.

If doctor's are now using Lyrica for relief of anxiety symptoms, that totally new news for me.  I am a member of the MS Forum and many over there have taken it for nerve pain.   We have not had many members say that it has helped with their pain at all.  They DO complain of swelling in the extremeties, which results in some fluid weight gain, but none of them have said they have gained more than 5 pounds or so.

You were on a pretty high daily dosage of Xanax.  When I used to experience panic and anxiety many years ago, I took a total of 2 mgs. a day, in conjunction with weekly counseling..  

By the way, if you were doing so well on the Xanax, why did your doctor switch you to Klonopin?  Forgive me if I am being too personal.

I wish you the best of luck with your Klonopin therapy.  I hope it works well for you.  If the Lyrica helps with your anxiety, I would love to hear about that. (Even though you say you aren't taking it anymore..if you again start to use it, please let me know if it indeed helps with your anxiety.) There is more about Lyrica that I would like to learn.

I wish you all the best,
Heather (Community Leader of the MS Forum)

[Tom3242]

Lyrica was recently approved for treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Europe.  Thats why my doctor gave it to me.  Xanax put me on a rollercoaster and 6mg wasn't cutting it anymore.  It doesn't do anything at all. I feel more stable on  4 mg klonopin but i still have anxiety.  I don't want to take Lyrica because of the weight gain.  I am extremely self conscious and run 40 minutes a day to try and lose the weight i gained on effexor xr. worst drug ever by the way.  i am 23 years old and my parents are very involved with my life.  they sometimes come with me to the doctor, so both them and my doctor no of my history with drug abuse.  they are very concerned about me being on benzo's so my doctor is looking for alternatives.  benzo's seem to be teh only things that work with no side effects.  

I was hoping to find someone who had success with Lyrica for anxiety.  I guess for now i won't take it becuase i dont know anything about it.  Thank you for your response. It was greatly appreciated.

Tom

[dottypotty]

Would y have to come off Lynic gradully excuse spelling. Dont like weight gain. my husband keeps telling me am fat. from Dorothyx

[barfer]

RCA7591

[barfer]

I'm sorry about the previous post, I obviously hit at button that I shouldn't.  Mind you, the name that I inadvertantly printed, would be someone who could really help you.  He is a fountain of information about drugs and their combinations.  I know he is very busy right now, but it wouldn't hurt to see if he could give you some input.  

[dlcottage]

I have panick attacks and anxiety . I am currently on lyricia 75mg once day for 2 mons now for trigiminal neuralgia, helps with the neuralgia but doesnt do a  thing for my anxiety and panick attacks i still get them!!!!

[Tom3242]

thank you all for your posts and help.  its very apreciatted

[Lynniepie2]

Lyrica was a miracle for my nerve pain for 2 1/2 years.  I went off it since the pain was gone and started to have serious anxiety problems.  I finally connected the dots!  The Lyrica was also solving my aniexty attack problem.  I went back on it.  I never had weight gain or problems with sleepiness.  Everyone is different.  You might be one of the lucky ones like me.

[hartangel]

i was on klonopin for anxiety and restless leg syndrome, my dr just changed me to 75mg of lryica twice a day and i have noticed that i am not having the nightly panic attacks or the rls either.... and it is also helping with my nerve pain in my back due to herniated discs.. so far no side effects aside from a little lethargy but that is to be expected.

[Ceana]

I like lyrica for it's calming & mood stabilizing effects. I also take Klonipin (klonopin). My panic/anxiety disorder has finally been stabilized. I do recommend both but a side effect can be drowsyness. If any one has experienced a panic disorder, drowsyness is a small price to pay. EG from WA

[Paxiled]

My understanding is, and this post is an old one, but to the above, that the older version of Lyrica, neurontin, is used for anxiety reduction, but not so much Lyrica.  Nurontin is basically like mainlining GABA which does regulate anxiety.  So some do use it for anxiety, but not that often since it usually only works for anxiety in high doses.  Lyrica is more often used these days for pain because it's on patent, whereas neurontin no longer is.  

[suza271]

Actually, you are wrong. My dr. told me that Lyrica is more widely used for anxiety than Neurontin. Neurontin is used for major depressive order off label. Lyrica is really effective for GAD.