Tapering off Lyrica gave me panic, nausea, extreme anxiety

Posted by cdcc @cdcc, Nov 28, 2017

I have been taking Lyrica 150 mg two times a day for four years for trigeminal nerve neuralgia from shingles. Since I am now beginning to loose my teeth from this medication I decided to go off it. Folding my doctors withdrawal program I became very sick. Panic, extreme anxiety, nausea, could not eat and lost 17 pounds in 7 weeks, not good I’m tiny as it is. Ended in the ER for I’ve fluids, nausea medications. Back to the family doctor. He put me back on 50mg a day because he felt I needed a long withdrawal from the medications then also said you may have to go back on your full dosing which after all this suffering I am doing I don’t want to do that. I have even made an appoint with a psychiatrist to help with the anxiety although my family doctor gave me Ativan 0:5mg to take twice daily. I don’t even wan5 to go outside the house, haven’t driven in 7 weeks afraid my anxiety or panic will take over. Has anyone experienced these conditions with coming off this medication. Thank you

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lillee | @lillee | May 28, 2019

In reply to @lioness "@lillee hope you continue to have it work for you" + (show)

Thank you I just hope I don't have to take any more Lyrica, I don't ever want to take it again I never knew how bad it was to just stop taking it.

lillee | @lillee | May 28, 2019

In reply to @lioness "@lillee hope you continue to have it work for you" + (show)

you must be a nurse ? my mom was had a doctor in nursing and was house supervisor before she retired. You just sound like her and full of knowledge.

lioness | @lioness | May 28, 2019

In reply to @lillee "you must be a nurse ? my mom was had a doctor in nursing and was..." + (show)

@lillee Yes I am retired after 35 yrs there quite a few nurses on here .Thanks

lillee | @lillee | May 31, 2019

how is everyone ? For once I feel great

lillee | @lillee | May 31, 2019

I haven't had a good day in a long time...

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jun 3, 2019

In reply to @lillee "I haven't had a good day in a long time..." + (show)

Hi, @lillee - sorry to hear you've not had a good day in a long time. Will you share more about that?

@jfanesi - how is the tapering off the pregabalin (Lyrica) going?

@cdcc - thinking of you. How are you doing?

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 27, 2019

Hi @babyur4me,
Thank you for the private message and letting me know that it's OK to answer it in a discussion about Lyrica. You mentioned you read the discussion about taking CBD and Lyrica and you want to know more about people taking Lyrica. The doctor prescribed it for your legs which have a burning feeling during the night. it's not helping and you want to stop taking it but your doctor said you just can't stop taking it. This is a very expensive Med. My Ins. paid 647.00 and I paid 80.

Tapering off too quickly can be life threatening with the side effects worse than the original pain/symptoms. I have no medical training or knowledge but know of others that had difficulty tapering off of lyrica and gabapentin and it must be done slowly. Here’s some info on tapering off of Lyrica: https://www.recovery.org/topics/lyrica/

@babyur4me what dosage of Lyrica are you on and how long have you been on it? I'm sure other members will be able to offer some suggestions for you but I would work with your doctor to taper off slowly.

babyur4me | @babyur4me | Jun 27, 2019

In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @babyur4me, Thank you for the private message and letting me know that it's OK to..." + (show)

I have been taking 50 mg at night altho they want me to take it 3 times a day but it makes me sleepy. i have been taking it about 6 months.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 27, 2019

In reply to @babyur4me "I have been taking 50 mg at night altho they want me to take it 3..." + (show)

Can you talk to your doctor and ask if he has suggestions for tapering off of Lyrica? I know that you don't want to stop taking it all at once but maybe others can share how they tapered off of Lyrica.