How to do a Lyrica taper?

@note8book
Maybe a mail order pharmacy that does the compounding ? Is that a possibility?
They can use something like dry ice in warm weather to keep the medications at the right temp.

I’m taking 50 mg of Lyrica 3 times a day for almost 6 years for nerve pain. I’ve had surgery recently & I feel it’s been mostly successful, as I’m feeling less pain. ( not gone) but better. I’d like to take “less” Lyrica now; (& hoping to stop it all together if the pain will be < 2) eventually,, but have tried to taper/wean off under docter’s care in the past with previous providers as they were going to try other meds with less side effects for me: but getting off the Lyrica has always been unsuccessful. I will consult my Dr about this so I will be under Dr’s care. But I’m always looking for advice & opinions from others that have been there. I’m grateful for the pain relief I’ve had from the Lyrica but hate the side effects. Trying to get off has caused a fast heartbeat; nausea; anxiety; and only able to sleep a few hours. And since I’m just newly post op; I need my sleep.

I’m going to be starting the taper soon. Put in a call to my doctor that put me on it. I’ve gradually started having extreme myopathy in my arms, they are weak, so are my calves in my legs and thighs. I have severe swelling and it caused me in the year and a half since I’ve been on it to gain around 50 pounds. It’s not worth it anymore. Honestly I started taking it for endometriosis/adenomyosis/PCOS pain but now that I’ve had a radical hysterectomy I should’ve got off it shortly after my surgery. However, I got bit by a tick and got fibromyalgia so they wanted to keep me on it. There has to be something else because this stuff has slowly ruined my life. My body hurts more on it, than it did before I ever started taking it and had endo belly (trust me that is extremely painful). I am concerned about the seizures side effect from withdrawal as I have a history of them. I’m just hoping all this pain, etc. will stop once I discontinue it and it’s finally out of my system.

I would rather deal with fibromyalgia pain, or like I said take an alternative to this extreme muscle fatigue that I believe lyrica is causing. It’s hard to tell if it’s the chicken or the egg (Lyrica or Fibromyalgia) but I’m convinced that Lyrica isn’t for me!

I hope everyone is doing good with their taper. I didn’t know if anyone ever had any serious side effects from withdrawal symptoms like a seizure or persistent problems from the med? Also, has anyone, especially with a history of seizures, had to be inpatient while they tapered? I read a lot of peer-reviewed articles (I’m a biologist), and it seems like it can be taken care of outpatient.

Thank you,
Jessica

@bajjerfan yes sir indeed.
Been on it since 2016. Started on 50 mg twice daily and progressed to the maximum daily dose of 300mg twice a day.

@jleebow

Does it help with nerve pain which is supposed to be one reason for taking it?

Hello - did you receive any comments? Did it go well for you? I am new on this forum and I am trying to join to receive support in stopping 75mg Lyrica once a day for the past four months. Do you know of any support?

@bajjerfan

Not for me which causes me to think that my issue isn't nerve related. GabaPentin didn't help and I'm not a good candidate for RF ablation or SCS.

I am slowly weaning off of Lyrica from 150 mgs twice daily for injury related nerve pain since January. My doctor suggested a 50mg drop every two weeks, which gave me nausea and terrible headaches. I've had it adjusted to a slow drop of 25 mgs. every two weeks. Take it slow. It doesn't matter if it takes longer to finally get off it. It's hard on your system and requires a very slow taper to avoid the side effects. Lyrica did work for me but I definitely won't go on it again.

@lindaelane talk to your doctor about a slow taper. Don't reduce by more than 25 mgs at a time and give your body at least 10 days to adjust before you reduce again. This is helping me but everyone is different

@jbjana6827

The first time I tried I did 25mg every few days for maybe a week and it was all good. Later I decided that getting off of it wasn't such a smart mave and I'm still on it.