Lyrica for opiate withdrawals.

[Jameskeenom8171992]

I've posted a couple questions on here but this is my main question now. I've been taken lyrica because I know it helps with opiate withdrawals as far as restless legs and insomnia. Even though I still have the diarrhea and flu like symptoms. My question is this by me taken idk (2) 50mg of lyrica a day (which isn't much) will it affect or prolong my withdrawals from opiates( hydrocodien)?.. I guess I'm
Curious as to when I decide the opiate withdrawals have gotten a lot better and a couple weeks gone by and I quit taken the lyrica as well, will the withdrawals come back in some way because the lyrica might have the same ingredients that hydrocodien has? I just don't want to be taken lyrica and then when the opiate withdrawals are better/gone and I decide to quit taking the lyrica the opiate withdrawals come back and it's like opiate withdrawals all over again (like day 1). I know lyrica isn't a narcotic and isn't a big habit former unless it's really abused, but I just want to know that lyrica and hydrocodien have none of the same ingredients or substances and it won't be like me still taking the hydrocodien?? There's probably a lot of misspelled words in there so sorry if it doesn't make sense i haven't slept in like 32 hours. Hopefully there's someone on here that knows about both of these drugs and can answer these questions directly on here. This has been in my head all day so please pray for me and god bless everyone on here even if you don't know god bless you. Any answers will be appreciated thank you!!!

[spider6]

Hey doll, I dint know about the lyrica, but what I do know is that it can take a h3ll of a long time for a lot if us to get our normal sleep back.  Me, I'm 420 days in and I've given up all hope. Lol I've been up since 2:30am and really that's just an hour or two earlier than yoooosh! It's gonna take time Brotha, my best advise is to physically exhaust yourself in the day,...really really tire yourself out...exercise is your best buddy.  Stay away from all stimulants ...coffee, chocolate, sugar,etc....

[weaver71]

There is no gabapentine in hydro's and no hydro or acetaminophen in gabapentine. At such a low dose and short term use, it should help and not really effect your healing process. Every body is different, but these drugs don't contraindicate one another.

[Jameskeenom8171992]

Well that ***** as far as insomnia lasting that long for you, you might just have insomnia period. That being said wow congrats on being clean 420 days that's just amazing so happy for you!!! You must fell great about yourself what an accomplishment!!!! 420 though you should celebrate with a little toke of weed haha (being that 420 is national weed day) lol. God bless you I hope you have 4000 days sober and many nights of great sleeping!!

[Jameskeenom8171992]

Thank you!!!! Those are the type of answers in looking for. So they are no way shape or form of being the same thing? Ima Texan and deer season is two weeks away so I got to get ready!!! Ha

[weaver71]

Hey there Tex. I'm seven generations from Austin, the family farm is now a city park. I live in California now, because there are a million acres of land where I can hunt and fish on public land around me. You will be very glad you got off opiates, even if you miss a year of hunting. You will get to hunt with a clear mind for the rest of your life. I wouldn't worry about the gaba, just stop taking it when you are feeling like the worst of the acute withdrawal is over. Do you have any plans for aftercare, church, meetings, therapy, anything?

[Jameskeenom8171992]

I'm Fort Worth Texas boy my whole family lives in Austin and midland!!! Been in Texas since the 1830's my family that is. Ya I always wanted to go to cali I've only been to la airport. Hell il be ready 2 weeks from now just gotta have a positive attitude. That question at the top was my main concern. Lyrica helps a lot with sleep and RLS so that's why I ask if it is like an opiate cause I still want to detox off opiates I can't be on those pills anymore they made me a different person.

[NeverAgain127]

I think you've got your questions answered honey, but I'll say it again for good measure.  There are NO opiates in Gabapentin.   Lyrica is the newest form of Gabapentin.  As far as I'm concerned they are the same drug, but that's because I used to teach chemistry and I"ve looked at the forumlas. Same drug...it was originally marketed by Pfizer as a drug to treat seizures (under the name Neurontin)

It's complicated and I think you'd find it boring, but the short answer is that it acts on neurotransmitters in the brain...DIFFERENT than the ones opiates have mechanism of action on.

Are you prescribed this drug or are you getting it off the street? (I hope that doesn't offend you.)  You should only take Lyrica, Gabapentin, etc under supervision of a doctor.

From what I'm reading it has been shown in a few studies to reduce the effects of opiod withdrawal...I'm on it because I have neuropathic pain (nerve pain.)  But honestly?   It doesn't do much good.  ALWAYS ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDS!!!!!

Are you feeling better than this morning, kiddo?   This was a rough day for you...me too.

Tomorrow will be better.  Onward!!

[lulu747]

Hey James-

I had bad experiences with gabapentin.  It was prescribed to me for pain when I went off opiates the first time years ago and it made me feel SO AWFUL.  Like I never wanted to get out of bed awful.  I have suffered from insomnia for 20 years.  Yes, it was at it's worst during detox where I averaged 3 hours sleep a night for 3 weeks.  This was dangerous for me because I have serious autoimmune illnesses that are triggered by lack of sleep.  I was on zoplicone (Lunesta) and benzos at the time but still no sleep.  I recently had surgery and am on opiates pre and post op which I will taper off of after I heal.  I wanted to be on as few drugs as possible and I was able to stop taking the zoplicone cold turkey and taper rapidly off benzos by taking this great thing called Tryptophan (yes the stuff found in turkey)
I take it in large doses prescribed to me by a doctor and it is amazing!  I wish I had discovered it during detox because it is a natural seratonin booster and mood stabilizer.  It helps to improve the length and quality of your sleep.  Taken in conjunction with Melatonin, which helps to reset your natural sleep/wake schedule, I sleep better than I have in years, even in terrible pain.
I know a lot of people who suffer from mild depression and mood disorders that swear by it.  It is a great natural alternative to AD meds and sleep meds.
Anyways, check it out if you are interested.  There are few side effects (just have to take it with a few crackers at bedtime cuz it can cause tummy upset) and like all natural products it takes awhile to build in your system.  I think it's going to be a great help to me as I taper off these opiates for what I hope to be the last time.  My surgery was successful and I am expected to make a full recovery at which point I hope to get off the drugs and become pregnant.

Anyways, Food for thought.
Lu

[Jameskeenom8171992]

So taking lyrica isn't a substitute for hydrocodion in any way? None of the same substances. I'm just taking lyrica for 1 week for RLS and sleep then I'm done but by that time I should be 14 days clean off opiates just wanted to make sure when I did quit the lyrica the opiate withdrawals sprawled up again one of yalls replies threw me off that's why I ask again lol

[NeverAgain127]

No, lyrica is not a substitute for opiates in any way.  

They are NOT the same drug class; not even close.  James, these are prescribed, right?  Are you finding them to help you in any way?

[Jameskeenom8171992]

I forgot about this post ha. Yes they are prescribed to me have been for 2 years now just wanted to clearing I'm not getting lyrica off the street that be kind of hard to find I think but.

[weaver71]

Each of these drugs work on different parts of the brain. If you have been taking the other drugs consistently, then I think it is best to detox one at a time. IF not, then add as few chemicals to your brain as you can, even if they do respond to different receptors in the brain. Our liver basically detoxes one chemical at a time, so adding chemicals can slow down the process of the detox you are targeting. You are over thinking all this, try not to find and new answer to an old question, "What drug will get me off drugs safely?' That is addict thinking. Time and good nutrition with exercise is the the healthy way to treat a body. We have known that since childhood, but drugs make us think different and forget what we know to be true. No decisions to make now, just take care of yourself and wait.