HELP! Im in Hell coming off Lyrica!! Has anyone on here ever got off it?

[SHELLBELL79]

I am having a hell of a time w/d off Lyrica! It is horrible! I was on it for my dental pain and decided to get off of it b/c I gained almost 30lbs in 2 months and its not really helpful! I have read on many other forums about how bad it is to come off Lyrica, it takes a long time. I only saw in one forum that it took 3 to 4 months of w/d. I read a lot of people's stories that they dealt with the withdrawals for 2 to 3 weeks and couldn't take it anymore and got back on the Lyrica b/c the w/d are so bad! I agree, I am going through the same thing! Iv'e been off the Lyrica for 2 weeks now and nothing is better! I feel like I have the full blown flu, achy, joints hurt, can't sleep, nightmares, headache that doesnt go away, very bad GI problems, body temp is messed up, no appetite, lethargic, low grade fever, weak, night sweats every night,etc. I know what its like to w/d from the strongest pain med in the world,(fentanyl) and detoxed off high dosed of Norco and Loratab 10s. Those w/d were really bad, especially the fentanyl but, ended eventually. This Lyrica w/d is hell! I can't do anything. I fell like this will never end. I refuse to get back on the Lyrica but, I also need my life back! I knew taking Lyrica you would have some w/d but, I had no idea it would be this bad and this long! I can't believe no one on medhelp has ever talked about it b/c Lyrica w/d is all over other medical forums and, its all about how bad and long it is and how no one can handle it! There has to be someone on here that got off the drug after taking it reg. for a few months!
Hope someone can help!
Thank you!

[Chiron373]

I started lyrica on the advice of my neurologist and GP to manage debilitating back pain. I was starting a high-paid position and wanted to prevent the pain and spasms that had destroyed my career in the past. Within 48 hours the pain in my back had completely gone for the first time in 15 years. However, I found I could not sweat when I exercised (I was overheating) and was gaining weight at a phenomenal rate despite cutting my calorie intake. Worst of all, I realized I wasn't thinking properly - I couldn't do my job. I was told I had "blown them away in the interview" but was failing to meet expectations. I immediately lowered the dose in consultation with my GP - I had night panic attacks as a result. I did regain some of my cognitive skills and halted the weight gain (although I was on starvation rations, the weight should have been falling off me!), but I ended up with worse back pain than I had ever had before. The drug that was supposed to make it possible for me to go back to work has resulted in excruciating pain. I still have only part of my cognitive abilities back, so overall the drug has done more harm than good. What annoys me is the lack of information I was given prior to starting lyrica - we are all told to listen to 'evidence' not opinion, but the blogs have been more accurate than the experts about the effects of this drug. I am hoping to completely withdraw from lyrica by the end of this year, although I have read on some blogs that people are living with the withdrawal effects for years after ceasing treatment. Has anyone thought of a class action suit for the damage this drug causes?  

[Scar111Lett]

Thats terrible.  I take a much lower dose but have put a lot of weight on.  My friends and family call me 'fatty' and accuse me of being greedy and lazy (going swimming or gyming is almost impossible on this stuff).  Its all I can do to get out of bed.  You must surely get some help with your children.  I didnt realise how addictive they are until I ran out on a Thursday, fetched a prescription on Friday, took it to the chemist who I didnt realise closed on Saturday afternoon (how daft is that)  By Monday I thought I was going crazy.  Im sure it was as bad as say alcohol withdrawal.  I am getting off these,  I wont tell the doc cos i dont actually want the script stopped just in case.  I live in the UK, where it is possible to get NHS rehabI  but that;s only for people with serious addiction eg heroin, not just a measly prescription tab - yea, right! I certainly havnt the money to pay for rehab myself otherwise I seriously would. I feel for you and hope you have a good support network,  Good luck with whatever you decide.

[BeanieNpen]

Lyric withdrawal, I was taking 300 mg once a day for diabetes foot pain, I gained 25 pounds feet got so big I could hardly get shoe on. I quit it cold turkey and never had any withdrawels at all. It did get me a tad high and very tired. I was driving west from Florida to Yellowstone and was afraid of falling aslee at the wheel,take Gababentin now but must take at least 2000 mg. a day for it to work and it does work a bit but pins,needles and pain in feet still there,Lyrica took it away totally but side effects ate terrible.

[Cr8tivmimi0911]

If your taking gabapentin it's pretty much same as taking lyrica. Gabapentin is the active ingredient in lyrica. That's why no withdrawls. If you stopped the gabapentin then you would have withdrawls.

[Blissgal01]

Stay on the Gabi if you can. Lyrica is a bad drug!!!

[Trissy32]

Withdrawls from gabepentine are just as bad an in time you'll increase I'm 32 year old I've been on gab since was twenty off and on the withdrawls are hellish as well an they're same addictive I came off them both using a little something for pain an nerves and weed but gab causes hot/ cold flashes bad when coming off them an depression bad and btw I tingle and etc on my back were my fibra is but it works great for nerve damage an I'm getting gab perscribed now an they are hard to let go of

[JodyeD]

I cannot imagine trying to come off Lyrica while trying to take care of 4 babies!  I spent 7 years on 300mg of Lyrica 3 times a day.  During that time I gained almond st 200lbs.  About a year ago my doc started tapering me down slowly to try and prevent withdrawals but that didn't help. My BP was dangerously high so she put me on Clonidine and that helped shape me with the BP and sweats.  I've been totally off Lyrica for 2 weeks and I don't even feel human.  I'm lethargic, stomach hurts, headaches, BP is crazy and I don't have the energy or desire to eat,  this is the worst medication I've been on for fibromyalgia and I've been on Fentanyl, Methadone, Kadian, OxyContin, etc., but withdrawing from those was a piece of cake compared to this. I will never take this crap again for any reason,  I wish you luck!  Take care!

[Blissgal01]

I have been on 800 mg of Lyrica for about a year now and I have tried to stop three times but the withdraws are so herific I always get back on it. I also have gotten off of Fentynol , Oxicontin. Etc.  why would doctors prescribe chap like this if you end up needing it all the time because the withdrawals  are so bad. Severe headaches, flu like aches and pains, can't eat, can't sleep. My blood is so thin that my skin rips off if I hit it even lightly. IM SO SICK OF THIS!!! I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE...

[moodz87]

Hi I've been on high and low doses of lyrica now for over 2 years, I've been prescribed 600mg a day for at least 7 months I have triesd so hard to come of it, pure hell, worser than any street drug at least those may only last 4 to 7 days this has my head and my body all messed up. I need sleep I have four kids under the age of 5 and a new born .............

[SnuggleDown]

All prescription medication come with the risk of the body getting attached to it; therefore, you must wean yourself off the drug - - give your body time to readjust.  Do it SLOWLY.  Taper off for a month or better if you have to.  There are all sorts of mg's available and if you're taking a high dose, step down to a lower dose for 2 weeks, then another lower dose for 2 weeks, and so on.  I've had to wean myself off many medications (bad neck problems and surgeries) and it's not immediate if you wean slowly, but it IS less painful.  I assure you it will get better.  Do NOT lose hope.