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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@hopeful33250

You are taking this with a great attitude, @wizzywinkles3, that is a good thing!

Will you keep in touch and let me know of your progress both with pain as well as the Lyrica taper?

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Oh thanks , i did try whining about it but it's a lot more fun to joke about scary health things😂
I sure will keep you updated. I've been reading the Mayo Clinic forum and website all year. So glad i finally joined.

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@wizzywinkles3

Oh thanks , i did try whining about it but it's a lot more fun to joke about scary health things😂
I sure will keep you updated. I've been reading the Mayo Clinic forum and website all year. So glad i finally joined.

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I'm very glad that you joined as well. A lot of support and encouragement is offered. I'm sure you will benefit.

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@hopeful33250

I'm very glad that you joined as well. A lot of support and encouragement is offered. I'm sure you will benefit.

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I feel less alone already x. I only wish all medical people would take the time to read the Mayo Clinic website and forum.

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@wizzywinkles3

I feel less alone already x. I only wish all medical people would take the time to read the Mayo Clinic website and forum.

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I'm glad that you feel less alone, @wizzywinkles3.

I agree about the medical profession needing to know about patient forums. I've told some of my doctors about Connect. I think if they read the posts they would have a better understanding of how a patient feels in reaction to a doctor's response.

This is an area of medical training that might be missing in some doctors. They aren't able to "feel" with the patient.

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@hopeful33250

I'm glad that you feel less alone, @wizzywinkles3.

I agree about the medical profession needing to know about patient forums. I've told some of my doctors about Connect. I think if they read the posts they would have a better understanding of how a patient feels in reaction to a doctor's response.

This is an area of medical training that might be missing in some doctors. They aren't able to "feel" with the patient.

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Hi Teresa,
You put it so well, thankyou. Some doctors are so cliniical and the worst thing is when they do not listen.
I'm so lucky i have a new doctor who not only listens but is a very kind person.
The first time i cut down on lyrica, i had a bad reaction.
A fool of a specialist explained to me that "middle aged women have migraines and strokes".
He was very condescending , so when he made me squeeze his fingers to test my strength, I squeezed with all my mighy and wouldn't let go😂
The funny nurse laughed when he left and said sorry, we get a lot of those types in here😁

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@wizzywinkles3

Hi Teresa,
You put it so well, thankyou. Some doctors are so cliniical and the worst thing is when they do not listen.
I'm so lucky i have a new doctor who not only listens but is a very kind person.
The first time i cut down on lyrica, i had a bad reaction.
A fool of a specialist explained to me that "middle aged women have migraines and strokes".
He was very condescending , so when he made me squeeze his fingers to test my strength, I squeezed with all my mighy and wouldn't let go😂
The funny nurse laughed when he left and said sorry, we get a lot of those types in here😁

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@wizzywinkles3 That story gave me a smile! Thanks.

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@wizzywinkles3

Sorry, i forgot to add that I have cervical osteoarthritis . Lyrica worked well for the pain but did not treat the nerve sensation of electric shocks in my head.
I have had an MRI and also disc fusion surgery earlier this year. The
MRI showed my surgery was a success but i have new bone spurs touching the nerves.
I am seeing a neurologist for this soon.
Lyrica stopped helping the pain, and my doctor raised the dose which did not help. It also made me very dizzy,
and that improved once i lowered the dose.
So, no doubt my neck issues are a major part of my health issues.
When I first took Lyrica i felt high as a kite, can't lie it was a wonderful feeling.
I started on 75mg daily and when pain increased it was raised to 150mg. That's when i started walking into walls and was so vague i wrote everything down. And the blurred vision worsened too.
I apologise for this very long reply Theresa😁

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@wizzywinkles3
Hello Theresa,
You shock symptoms may have been caused because you were decreasing your dose to quickly.
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@wizzywinkles3
Hello Theresa,
You shock symptoms may have been caused because you were decreasing your dose to quickly.
Jake

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Hi Jake,
You are so right and thanks for your help. I did decrease by 50mg in one week. My memory is shocking and my body feels like it can barely walk.
The itching is non stop.My feet are on fire.
Apart from that, I feel just wonderful, haha😂

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Zoloft is the drug, I have been tapering. Like others, my doctors did not fully understand everything about Zoloft. I did a considerable amount of my own research and discovered that I am in that special 4% that are highly sensitive to the drug. Which means, I have to taper extrememly slowly, only 0.4mg at a time. My suggestion is do lots of research. My doctors are with the Cleveland Clinic. I sent certified sign receipt letters to the head of Pharmcy, Cardiology and Drug Rehab asking for help. I got it. I also contact with durg manufacturer and had lengthy conversations with my pharmist. I also located a doctor who was involved in the original clinical trials for the drug. Found articles in Journals of Medicine. A great help was a book called "The Anti-Depressant Solution" by Dr. Joseph Glenmullen. Dr. Glenmullen has 30+ years of helping people taper off these types of drugs. Please let us know how you are doing?

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@hopeful33250

@wizzywinkles3 That story gave me a smile! Thanks.

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You're welcome Theresa😁 When you get those types of arrogant doctors it's a waste of energy to explain things to them. The funny nurse was so cool!

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