Connect
← Return to Chronic Back Pain for Years
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@eileena, When you mentioned Kaiser it reminded me of a question my niece asked her best friend, an Obstetrician at Kaiser. She asked “Is Kaiser a good hospital?” Doc said yes, as long as your not sick”
Replies to "@eileena, When you mentioned Kaiser it reminded me of a question my niece asked her best..."
This is Gailb, and I'm a Volunteer Mentor with Mayo Connect. I saw your post about Lyrica and wanted to share some information with you. I was taking Gabapentin for about 5 months, and in my research to get off it I read that it is the precursor to Lyrica. The pharma-ceutical company introduced Lyrica after Neurontin was made generic as Gabapentin. They changed the formula slightly in order to make Lyrica so they could continue to make higher profits from it. I had terrible side effects from Gabapentin including brain fog, and loss of huge chunks of memory. I decided to stop taking it after I had a minor car accident that I know was the result of my brain fog on Gabapentin. My pain doctor insisted that I didn't need to withdraw from it and said I could just stop it cold turkey. I had read enough on Mayo Connect to know that wasn't a good idea. With the help of my pharmacist I did withdraw from it and felt so much better off it. I was taking it for pain, not depression. I wouldn't take Lyrica for depression, and I would change doctors if mine recommended Lyrica or Gabapentin for anything, but especially for depression. I agree with you that they are terrible medications, at least for me. I hope they are helpful for others. Antidepressants are completely different from Lyrica which is for nerve pain.
Gailb
Volunteer Mentor
Connect
@coquifoife
To my knowledge there have not been any clinical studies or trials showing the effectiveness of Lyrica for depression whether Clinical, Manic, Seasonal, psychotic or which ever type depression your suffering from. However some success has been seen in using it for anxiety. Remember that Lyrica is an Anticonvulsant not an Antidepressant or Anti-anxiety medication. Depression is not even anOff label use of Lyrica.” Personally, my use of that HORRIBLE VILE drug Lyrica caused muscle and joint damage. I filled a complaint with the FDA and shortly after a new warning appeared on its label. Lyrica also has addictive properties as well. Staying within the Anti-depressive family of drugs in my opinion would be a much better choice.