I was on pregabalin 75mg twice a day for roughly 3 and a half months for severe anxiety. The pregabalin didn't really help me and the side effects actually caused anxiety. I just stopped taking the pregabalin. I have been off the pregabalin for nearly 2 weeks now. I'm not sure if I am getting withdrawal effects or if it is something else all together. The first few days when I stopped the pregabalin I was getting extremely dizzy and lightheaded. But that isn't quite as bad as what it was. Although I am still getting it but it's just not as bad. But now I keep feeling like I get all this pressure building up in my head. It feels like my head it going to explode. I also feel shaky and I am twitching. Especially my hands and feet twitch. My vision feels strange as well. I feel really anxious and depressed as well and extremely agitated. I also feel as If I am getting mood swings and I just feel all round confused. My body and head all feels really tight as well. Like a really tense feeling. I feel like I'm twitching. I just feel like I can't relax and I am worried almost 24/7. I don't know if this is withdrawal or something else?
Is this pregabalin withdrawal?
Question posted by andyw1991 on 25 Jan 2014
Last updated on 3 January 2023 by Stuwil
16 Answers
You are going through withdrawal, I bet night times are worse, shouldn't be for much longer
I'm going off 50 a week and feel horrible. Nauseous, dizzy and completely out of it. Going to keep trying to make it through! pregabalin was messing with my head. x
I have been on Pregabalin 600mg daily for about 5 years I have been tapering off 100mg every week and I have been off it for 3 weeks now. I have stomach pains, sickness, loss of appetite, palpitations and diarrhoea. How long will this last? Has anyone else had similar?
I too was on this drug for 5 years with 2 different frozen shoulders. I am off it now and it's been about just over 3 months after tapering down. I had all same symptoms including tremors which I still experience a bit. I stopped because of the 20 lb weight gain and have lost 15 lbs so far. I feel sad a lot but am determined to weather the storm. Am taking vitamin b's and l theanine and omegas. I hope you are staying the course. It just has to get better in time. Cbd oil works if you have anxiety or sleep problems.
I know this was posted a while ago but currently coming off pregabalin and came across this post. Can anyone tell me how long it takes for the side effects of coming off the stuff to stop? I’ve been taking 150mg twice daily since August last year for GAD and like others developed way too many side effects the worst being the foginess, clumsiness and memory issues. I’ve dropped down to one tablet daily instead of 2 and I feel like my anxiety is through the roof, I feel weird and spaced out and just not right and I’m worrying uncontrollably. My mind feels like the fog has been lifted but in its place is just this weird feeling like I’m completely out of it. Any advice much appreciated, I am coming off it slowly but not liking the feelings it’s giving me.
I came off pregabalin was on 600mg a day a year ago lowered down to 25mg a day over a year and then off with no withdrawals or anything. I was on it for 2 years.
Is there anyone who has gone through withdrawal, experienced similar symptoms to Andy, and come out the other side with he help of psychotherapy, how long did it take ? I've come off a low dose of lyrica and am frightened I'll just be left with this awful anxiety, xx
I was diagnosed with severe neuropathic back pain resulting in prescription of pregabalin. 450mg a day. I subsequently underwent spinal fusion with the insertion of titanium rods in my back. The operation didn't work and left me in even more pain. I was advised to carry on taking the pregabalin but have found the side effects totally debilitating. No sleep, sweats, anxiety, burred vision, muscle pain. In an attempt to get some respite I have stopped taking it, with even worse results. I now know what cold turkey means.
I am going through the same situation, I stopped lyrica almost 10 weeks ago and I still feel weird (headaches, lightheaded, dizzy, vision strange, confused, not like myself), just wondering how long did it take for you to feel good again, without these symptoms? I really appreciate your response. Thanks
Hi Andy
I did a taper taking my last pregabalin 4 weeks ago and like you I feel like my head is going to explode my neck and shoulders hurt bad too. And before someone jumps on this post saying its just my experience, yes it is! and this sufferer deserves to hear both sides. Sorry Andy but some people defend this drug at every turn even going as far as accusing people of lying as to what they are going through. My sight is bad I cannot focus and I see things out of the corner of my eyes. I feel spaced out and have horrific headaches and sweat buckets. I am due at the doctors next week as I do not know how long I can put up with this for? I do not drink or smoke or take other drugs recreational or prescribed and my Christmas was hell. I have spoken to a lot of people who have found their selves in trouble when they come off this drug, look on You-Tube. Take care Andy if you want to chat give me a shout. x
I am going through a living nightmare tapering off this drug. My doctor does not believe how hard this is coming off them and I was only taking the prescribed dose, I have been trying to come off them longer than I was taking them and its hell. All nerve ending feel alive prickling me my head feels like it is going to explode and I think I am going to die, the sweating is insane and the feeling of utter helplessness is all consuming and nobody believes me so I am getting no help? How the hell do I get help? They are giving this drug out for so many things and you only realize you have a dependency issue when you stop taking them and because the doctors do not mind doubling the prescription when they stop working this is creating the perfect storm.
I have spoken to people on insane amounts of pregabalin as like I said doctors just double the script but when they stop working and they will all these people are going to go into withdrawals and I do not think the authorities are ready for it, doctors need to be more aware and people should be told the risks before they take them. I was taken off pain pills and put on these and I am hating life at present.
Hi everyone. I was taking Lyrica for 7-8 years before I connected all my horrible side effects to this medication. I started tapering off slowly a few years ago. I finally finished in June of last year (2017). I found that if I tapered too fast that I had withdrawals that were similar to the side effects except they were so much more intense. I experienced forgetfulness, dizziness, shakiness, exhaustion and blurred vision. I was light headed and felt like my head was going to explode. At times it was almost impossible to concentrate on anything. I had lost interest in everything. My face, hands and feet would swell up so much that it was hard to walk. I gained so much weight and I looked and felt like I was pregnant. I would worry about such little things and sometimes I thought I was going crazy. I was anxious, nervous and depressed but I was initially put on Lyrica for chronic nerve pain.
I had none of these problems before Lyrica! I still have the back pain that I started getting while I was on Lyrica. The X rays and MRIs have found nothing wrong with my back. I would never advise anyone to take medications like this. This is my own personal opinion from the horrible experience I had from being on Lyrica for years and the nightmare of tapering off. Please do all the research you can on this drug and others like it. You may decide that it's not worth taking. If you are taking it and want to come off it please taper slowly. There are videos on You Tube on how to taper off safely. Take care everyone and I wish you all the best. Cindy
Hi cindy-50 how's are you now 8moths ago I quit god I am left not being able to walk more than 10steps I can't stand for more than couple mins I'm so confused its been so long now I never had any of these issues till I started pregabalin please help!!!
Hello
I have been on 450mg of Pregabalin or similar for about a year and I have been so confused since tapering down by 150mg per week and finally came off last one on 10th August 2018. I was on them after having an MRI scan on my back (Scoliosis) which showed the spine was resting on nerves hence my very bad lower back pain. Reason for coming off is that I had an injection into my lower spine and this helped enormously with my pain. Also I hated b being on them.
Anyway since coming off for the past 16 days I have been nauseous, hands and toes twitchy; agitated, anxious and depressed and worst still for the past 3 nights I have had dreadful nightmares. The one last night I couldn't fathom.
Is there some kind on detox centre or have I got to put up with this for rest of my life.
Bette1931
Hey Guys, I have the same question about my symptoms & thanks to you it has been answered. I have been on pregabalin for 11 months. Im on it for arthritis pain. I had no problems starting it. No side effects. The medication stopped helping me about 5 months ago. I believe I built up a tolerance to it. My Dr said it isnt possible. My biggest problem is all the weight I have packed on. Im blown up like a balloon. I dont recongize myself. Since it isnt helping me anymore I see no reason to be on it. Im slowly getting myself off the stuff. I havent consulted my Dr.
Yesterday I was so dizzy & trembling. I was sure it is withdrawal symptoms. Now thanks to reading your posts I am sure. Thank you. My sleeping is terrible as well. This pregabalin is a horror. I wish I never started it.
How are you all coming along now? Any better.
Hi, quick answer, yes these symptoms are withdrawals from the medication. I am currently taking 300mg (3 x 100mg capsules) daily, of Pregabalin, also for anxiety (GAD). I have been warned about reducing the dose gradually, as this is the stage I am at right now... it sounds that among the more common symptoms, you are also suffering peripheral neuropathy, which can be a TEMPORARY side effect from stopping some medications without tapering. Please seek advice from the prescribing doctor asap for advice towards what step to take next... I'm sure you'll be fine, but maybe feel rough for a short period of time
I'm sorry to get back so late, but I wasn't familiar with Pregabalin, so I looked it up and found out it's Lyrica. I'm not really sure why you were given this for severe anxiety? The main uses for this medication is Fibromyalgia, or Neuropathic Nerve Pain, and severe nerve pain caused by other illnesses. If you were taking it for over three months and stopped it cold turkey, you're lucky you didn't go into severe withdrawal. One of the main side effects of this medication is dizziness and lightheadedness, so I'm surprised you're suffering from that now and not while you were taking it. I do know however that no matter what the medication, or how one gets off of it, a drug stays within a woman's body for up to 6 months, or longer. Much longer than men, because women have so many more fat cells, where the drug is stored, than men.
Why don't men have to go through all the junk we do? Anyway, back to the subject. If you've been off the pregabalin for two weeks what you're experiencing isn't withdrawal, it's your normal anxiety. That's what my anxiety feels like if I don't take my meds for even a day. If I were you I would get ahold of whoever prescribes your mental health medication and let them know that the Pregabalin did nothing for your anxiety, so you stopped taking it. Then let them know you'd like to try another drug made just for anxiety. I myself take Klonopin and Celexa, for straight anxiety, and I also take Wellbutrin for major depression, but it also helps with anxiety. The one drug I would try and stay away from is Xanax. It's highly addictive and extremely hard to get off of. I've heard it called the Crystal Meth of prescription drugs, it's that addictive and after a week you'll want more and more to get the same results. I was in rehab a couple times in my 30's and almost every woman in there was hooked on Xanax. Diazepam or Valium works, but it's also not one of the better ones. I like the Klonopin personally, I take 3 mgs. a day, along with 40 mgs. of Celexa and 450 mgs. of Wellbutrin everyday and it's seemed to work with very little side effects now for over 3 years. Again, the symptoms you describe sound like severe anxiety, does your stomach feel like you've been punched in the gut? If so along with all the other symptoms you describe are bad anxiety and again I don't know why a doctor would prescribe Lyrica for anxiety. But I'm not a doctor, so if I were you I'd call the doctor on Monday and either make an appt. to discuss it with them or talk to the nurse about seeing if there's something else the doctor could prescribe for your anxiety. Good Luck and if you can go outside and take a short walk, that will help a little with the anxiety.
As you know I suffer from bad anxiety anyway. But last night I stupidly went up to my friends house and got really drunk. I drank nearly a full bottle of Morgan's spiced rum. Now today my anxiety is through the roof. I feel like I'm having a constant panic attack. keep feeling like I'm going to die. I've only had about 3 hours sleep last night. I just can't sleep. I feel so ill. I'm really worried.
As you know I suffer from bad anxiety anyway. But last night I stupidly went up to my friends house and got really drunk. I drank nearly a full bottle of Morgan's spiced rum. Now today my anxiety is through the roof. I feel like I'm having a constant panic attack. keep feeling like I'm going to die. I've only had about 3 hours sleep last night. I just can't sleep. I feel so ill. I'm really worried.
First of all you're having a hang over, so the best remedy for that is water. Start drinking A LOT of water, and try to sleep!!! If you still can't sleep you're gong to have to ride out the hangover until, they usually wear off around 3:00 as I remember. I don't drink anymore, but I do know you've got to flush your body with water and lots of it, drink one glass after another. Then try your anxiety medication, but I wouldn't take that until the alcohol is out of your system.
Hi SpineLady. While I agree with you on many things you said there is one thing I disagree wholeheartedly with. I have actually taken Lyrica/Pregabalin for 7-8 years for chronic nerve pain. I had many horrible side effects but didn’t connect all the problems I was having with Lyrica until I started researching it. I then realized that there were many who were having the same side effects that I was having. This medication caused me to have anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts and much more. It even caused me to have more pain. I finally realized that I needed to taper off and do it very slow. If I tapered too fast I would experience what is called ‘The Discontinuation Syndrome’. One of the symptoms of this (withdrawal) is anxiety! I have talked to many people who have tapered off too fast and they experienced anxiety too.
They are told by doctors and others that it’s their ‘initial anxiety’ returning but in many cases it’s from going off (tapering) too fast or from cold turkey. Personally I am in the process of tapering off another drug now (Cymbalta) and I will continue until I’ve tapered slowly off each and every medication I’m taking right now. There are literally thousands of people all over the world who are trying to get help to taper off these medications slowly so they can get their lives back. Lyrica and Cymbalta are two of the hardest drugs to get free from. I have heard them compared to heroin and cocaine. And that’s from people who have got off them and are now trying to get off Lyrica/Pregabalin and/or Cymbalta/Duloxetine. I can’t wait to get drug free and get my life back. Cindy
I meant to add that these ‘withdrawal symptoms’ (including anxiety) can last for weeks or months if someone goes off them too fast! Cindy
Yes it's withdrawal. You should never stop this med abruptly. If you still have them if you go back to one a day until you're symptoms stop. Then try one every other day for at least a week before you try to stop them. You should have talked to your dr about stopping it.
As you know I suffer from bad anxiety anyway. But last night I stupidly went up to my friends house and got really drunk. I drank nearly a full bottle of Morgan's spiced rum. Now today my anxiety is through the roof. I feel like I'm having a constant panic attack. keep feeling like I'm going to die. I've only had about 3 hours sleep last night. I just can't sleep. I feel so ill. I'm really worried.
Hey Andyw~How are doing after a few days? I wanted to checkin with a private message as our previous conversation but you have a restriction to not have private questions. I can though so if you still want to chat I'm around. Hope your doing well today, not sure if your into football but Superbowl Sunday is going to be a fun one(I'm hopeful since I'm from the Seattle area!?) Eat lots and maybe have a glazs of water between each adult beverage. ;o)~kova
Related topics
anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, pregabalin, withdrawal, side effect
Further information
- Pregabalin uses and safety info
- Pregabalin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Pregabalin (detailed)
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