I just saw my Dr and I asked her about maybe switching to something else, I am on 150mg Lyrica at bedtime. I asked her about this because so many on this site have started to change my mind about being on this drug, I was recently put on Gabapentin 100mg tid, my recent hospital stay they up this to 300mg tid. This is when the blurry vision kicked in and I was told to bring the dose down to 100mg tid again, which I did. But whilst in Canada the blurry vision didn't improve so over the time in Canada I stopped it all together, still no improvement with the blurry vision. So I just asked my PCP could it be the Lyrica and she said I was surprised they put me on Gabapentin whilst on the Lyrica because they are more or less the same drug. She said she was glad I came of the drug and said she would want to up the Lyrica even more.
I said is there anything else that would be more or less work the same as Lyrica and she said I should ask one of my other Dr's, something I forgot to say is I have tried in the past to come down on Lyrica but I was always put in withdraw. Shaking and shivering that sort of thing, the pharmacy made special caplets of Lyrica coming down in 5mg doses. But I still had the same reaction, and everytime I went back on the higher dose of the Lyrica the withdraw symptoms would stop. So I ask the question to my PCP if I try again to come down on the Lyrica is there anything I can take to help me through the withdraw she said no ther is not anything. Is this true, and has anyone else been through withdraw symptoms with the Lyrica. Thanks Liz.
Need advice about Lyrica and tapering down, is there anything I can take to help withdrawals?
Question posted by ukliz on 2 Aug 2012
Last updated on 16 January 2021
15 Answers
I know this question is from years ago, and I hope that everyone who was posting 7 years ago have found relief! But I still want to share, diet changes and supplements from the local health food store in my town helped me manage withdrawal symptoms. I don’t feel comfortable saying which supplements (everyone is unique and I also don’t want to break any site rules) but I highly urge any visiting this thread to ask this question to someone in your local health food store.
Hi Lizzie,
I was also prescribed lyrica - pregabalin, for anxiety about four years ago. I've been on 225mg twice a day for all that time. Two years ago I developed a back problem, and since then dr's have said it helps with that - they didn't realise I was initially prescribed it for anxiety. I never gave much of a thought about taking it, I gained weight and had bad swelling in my ankles and feet but never made a connection with this and lyrica. I recently had back surgery, so decided to look into coming off lyrica. It was then I read about the side effects associated with it and realised I have many. About a week ago I've cut down from 225mg twice a day to just once a day. I've been feeling really tired and drowsy bit as I'm not working at the moment, I can cope with it.
I was going to cut down further, but after doing a bit of research, I'm going to stick with taking 225mg once a day until I see my GP. Should've done this first but as my anxiety is better and my back pain is better after the surgery, I had a feeling dr's wouldn't want to change any of my medication.
I'm taking the single 225 dose in the morning, not sure if it would be better to take it at night so I sleep off the withdrawals?
Anyway, I'll keep my progress posted here and welcome any responses from anyone else with experience of coming off this drug x
I’m so glad I found this forum. Pregabalin is hell! I had some personal tragedies in my life and was put on pregabalin for generalised anxiety disorder (I am British and it’s lincened here for anxiety), 150mg twice a day. I lived in France for a bit and the stupid doctor there also put me on diazepam 30mg a day. I realised I was having break through withdrawal from diazepam in between doses so decided to taper it down gradually and now am only taking 2mg each day. That was really hard but I managed it so I decided to come off the pregabalin. That’s when the nightmare began. I’m down to 150 a day in two doses of 75mg, which I’m doing myself by splitting the contents of the capsules.
I can’t even trust my doctor to help me taper as they don’t seem to think it’s a problem and anyway, and I need to keep getting the same dose in case I fail as it terrifies me that i would be left without enough if I’m distraught. I’ve tried many times to reduce down to further and I seem to manage for a few days, but then the severe headaches, insomnia, depression and anxiety start and I have to take more again. I get most of the withdrawal effects and feel like a zombie. I’m already getting withdrawals in between doses when I take 2 x 75mg. I’ve become lazy, isolated, miserable and very irritable. I have no real life, just an existence and I really don’t know what to do about it. I try explaining to my friends and family but they seem to be sick of hearing me and my doctors don’t understand. This is really hell and I’m scared by how I feel and I’m scared of feeling worse by trying to get off it. While ever I’m on it though, I’m going to suffer anyway so I really, really want to be off it. I find it hard to believe that such a small amount of a chemical can be so devastating and destructive but it is! Good luck to all of you who are trying to get off this poison. At least this forum makes me realise I’m not alone and I would love someone to respond to my post. Love to all sufferers. ❤️
Hi there Liz. I too was prescribed lyrica for chronic anxiety 4years ago!! In Ireland. You are the first person I have come across to also be prescribed tricks for anxiety!! Over the last nine months I have reduced from 375 to 75. I reduced another 25 10days ago and am experiencing horrible anxiety I’m frightened all the time. Was speaking with someone today who said you and slow it down by opening the capsule mixing it with water though I’m not quite sure how much water. I too feel that gp an physiatrist are not providing me with any medical support to get off this drug . And living with anxiety is so cruel I have tried everything to try elivate this. I am in recovery international which is a cbt self help group and have found this to be the most helpful. Not sure if it is in the uk. I hope your doing better. Helen.
I started on pregabalin near the end of December for leg and back pain. I'm type2. It worked like a charm for the back pain. The Dr. worked me up from week1 .25mg twice a day week 2 to 50mg twice a day to week 3 75mg twice a day. After the the second week my pain was gone. My last trip to the Dr in January showed a slight weight gain 4lbs but my Blood Pressure was higher than normal. Normal was always 120~128 / 70(something). Rarely it would reach 140~147/70. At the Dr. it was 160/80.. So I went back over the log in my BP meter, and my BP seemed to start rising about the same time I started taking the pregabalin peaking at 190/87.. So I started tapering off the pregabalin over the next 3 weeks at the same rate that I started taking it. It's been a week that I have been off it totally now, and have suffered no withdrawal effects. My BP has come down a bit 150~170/over 80.
My relaxed heart rate has never changed and has been in the 60~68 BPM, I'm 71, so I guess that's not a bad heart rate for my age. I'm hoping over the next three weeks off this drug, my BP will come back down to it's normal level. If it doesn't I guess it's back to the Dr. for a stronger BP Pill.. He has me on 2.5mg of Ramipril now, which he said was basically a precaution for the Type II I'm on a few other precautionary drugs, but have been taken them for months without the rise in BP, so it seems it's only the pregabalin that has caused the change..
hi liz, as i mentioned, after getting down to 30 mg from 400, i timed the final quitting day to be two days after i had a steroid shot in my spine. that blocked the pain from lyrica withdrawal and i finally got off it. cannabis helps but that is it, for me at least.
what are your withdrawal symptoms? why did you start taking it? doctors i have talked to have no idea about how to quit. are you now trying to quit?
this thread is very old... not sure what is going on now. john
Is there anybody currently tapering Lyrica? AND is there any success stories about tapering?
I was prescribed Lyrica in 2008 for chronic back and neck pain and was on a dose of 300mg x 2 a day which really zoned me out so I cut back to 150mg x 2 a day and then down to 75mg x 2 a day and was on that for years until I had a ruptured brain aneurism in 2016 and they upped the dosage to 300mg x 2 a day again. It has been very effective at managing my chronic pain but I have noticed significant changes in my memory faculty and connecting the dots in situations in my life. I have been actively reducing my Lyrica since then and three days ago I quit the last of the 25mg x 2 a day that I was still on. All the way through these reductions the withdrawals have been heinous. I can’t wait til I’m off this drug and will find other ways to deal with my neck and back pain. I hope I get my mental faculties back over time...
Yes I am tapering off, I am on a dose of 25mg per night. and was instructed to take one every other night for 4-6 weeks then every 3rd night etc. what was not explained was how long each gap should be
How are you doing now.
OMG! I thought I was the only one who was going through this. I'm commenting eve before reading anyone else's response so I hope someone has a solution. I thought I was hyperthyroid from the symptoms I was experiencing and finally my Dr. Told me it was withdrawals from the Lyrics. I sweated of 12 lbs. I got rashes on the back of my thighs from the sweat. And then the next second I get cold and clammy and the fatigue was the worst. I was so tired all the day I could barely get through the day. So the Dr. Put me back on at a lower dose but its still expensive and I want to go off of it completely. What can I do? Now I will cont. And bread the other comments...
muscle relaxers are helping me, mmj, exercise.
bump...
Topomax or keppra are the only two drugs that help with pain, vision and weight. Hope this helps. JB
I too had withdrawal effects when coming off Lyrica. I was only taking 75mg in the morning and 75mg in the evening, so not the highest dose. After six days of intensene night sweats accompanied by nightmares and vivid dreams and anxiety during the day, which was probably related due to me feeling as much pain as when I was first put on Lyrica I had to go back to my original dose. I told my neurologist and she shook her head and told me to continue taking the med. However, I did manage to come off the drug more than a month ago, I do get pain but usually I can handle it ok now. I must admit to partially replacing the Lyrica with marijuana - I realize this may be controversial for some people, but it works for me. I take very little and just when my trigeminal nerve pain gets bad (it's usually accompanied by increased anxiety and marijuana helps me with that too). I have none of the bad side-effects I had on the Lyrica.
Thanks for chiming in ... I will be off this medicine ... I have never been one to take such controversial medication but the back pain was crippling me. As for what you use to cope now ..its your choice ... marijuana isn't anywhere as harmful as Lyrica ..My opinion of course... I'm very happy to hear you are off of Lyrica. Thanks for the support. Im experiencing a lot of anxiety and my body is shaking ... head started twitching yesterday. I have a very strong will and desire to get off all my meds ... they are going to kill me. I want to be myself again! ! I often cone to this site when the anxiety gets to be too much . It helps me calm down completely. Thanks again for the support !!! It means soon much ...
Hi, I'm happy that I can encourage you and perhaps some other people on here. It is possible to come off meds but it should be done gradually. Having said that, there are some people whose pain is so bad that it can only be controlled by heavy medication. Still, I think there should be more research done on the benefits of marijuana in treating pain, I know someone who's helped people with post chemotherapy pain. It's such a shame that our current health system is not more open to it when "regular" medicine can be a lot more harmful and sometimes less effective in treating pain. You know what I find quite controversial? That I was prescribed Lyrica for nerve pain when I've read on several forums that Lyrica can actually cause neuropathy... it's like the warning you get on antidepressants that one can experience increased suicidal thoughts when using the medication, it's kind of sad. I hope you'll get trhough the bad phase soon and wish you many pain-free days!
Any advice appreciated. Hospital has advised me to take 75mg of Pregablin (Lyrica)on a morning and 75mg at night for neuropathic pain in my back/leg. Having read other people's comments with respect to withdrawal and side effects, I having second thoughts about taking this drug. Setting aside the pain issue if you were in my shoes and you were given the choice would you still take this drug - or would you warn me to stay clear?? Thanks
I am currently enrolled in a drug detox program for lyrica. I am on 300mg BID. I have been on it for years. I have experiences cold shakes, profuse sweating, restlessness and high anxiety attacks. Pls... for the love of whatever you hold dear... talk to your doctor and research becore coming off on your own. I have never had any problems with medication until this.
Thank you Liz ... I would love nothing more than to speak to you more about this debilitating drug. I strongly believe we and I'm speaking of anyone dealing with chronic pain ..need support... thankyou for your original post ... I felt so compelled to answer because there is so much out there about Lyrica and what it does to you . This is my first time in a support group and I feel better already. I means a lot to know I can talk to someone who can relate . If there is anyone in need of support please add me as a friend. We an help each other .
I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation. I wonder if you could help me. My daughter takes Lyrics can it make you imagine seeing things and hearing voices of taking to much or withdrawal from them..
I have been on this drug for several years along with cymbalta, I would like to try to come of of it. I have gained almost 40 pounds of weight since starting this. When I try to stop it makes me have a headache and I feel like I can't think straight. Had anyone else had these issues?
I do realize this question was posted in 2012 however anyone like myself looking into Lyrica should know it is a very dangerous drug. There ARE many withdrawal symptoms when coming off this drug. Frankly it scares the hell out of me. Of course everyone is different but I have heard more horror stories about the withdrawal than not. I'm currently taking 300mg a day for about 4months for a back injury. I have read just about every pamphlet, website..etc..I have plans to find another Dr asap. This drug should not be given out so easily. From my experience one of the worst side effects of this medication is constantly being in a state of "malaise " ..my life is in complete disarray. Its as if I could careless if my bills get paid ... my house gets cleaned... etc.. finally my husband told me he's had it ... I can't blame the guy ... I'm a hot mess... I'm aware now and I will be tapering off this awful.drug.
It worked for the god awful pain I had, however I'm about 15lbs heavier..I am constantly bloated ..my face looks awful in the morning ..and come to find out the acne turned into huge sores all over my face is from this medication. Please for your sake and your family do not take this drug. It almost ruined my life! God bless all of you ..my heart goes out to anyone suffering from chronic pain. I'm only 38 years old..I almost lost everything from taking this very dangerous drug!!!
Hi, I am so sorry about how your life has become using this drug Lyrica. I have been on this drug for a long time, I have tried a couple of times to try and com of this drug. But it does it's job, concerning the pain. I had terrible withdraw symptoms, and the pharmacy even made 5 mg caps to help come down very slow because I had the chills, shivers and a whole lot more. I am on 150 mg now at bedtime, and I have come to the conclusion that I am probably just going to be on this drug for a long time. The withdraw I tried for over a week with just the 5 mg cap as help, I too change my PCP, I have just had my second appt with him but I will bring this medication to his attention when I am ready to try again.
It is really a big challenge, and I really understand you and the Lyrica medication. I think we have a real challenge to get of this drug, and find something to replace it with. Plus have it work as good as Lyrica in helping with the Pain, I have made you a friend if you want to talk more on this. Take care Liz.
Me too.. I've been on it for about 5 years and in that time frame,, I've managed to loose everything and everyone I love and care for. My house is always a mess..cant work..i can barely take care of myself anymore..let alone anyone else..even my pets are in the care of someone else. I was in a life-threatening car accident last fall because of drinking on Lyrica. [It causes me to do really stupid things that I normally would never do], and so I'm left without a car anymore [my car was totaled] and no lisence. So I'm stuck out in the middle of no where..in pain..depressed ..and lost everyone. Whenever I'm out of it or try my hardest to stop - the withdrawal symptoms are HELL - too many symptoms to list - and just talking about it - gives me anxiety, so I'm only going to say that much for now before I go into sheer panic.
This is the first time I've wrote on anything like this and I did it because the writer above pissed me off pretty bad when she said lyrica withdrawals are unheard of!!! She obviously has never been on it for a substantial amount of time, so idk why she even responded.
I hope that you have found relief since posting this! I completely agree that this drug is handed out to easily. And what is more astounding is that my doc didn’t know I needed to taper off. I got so sick and researched for myself and then went back and told him I needed to tapper the dose.
Hey Liz, how are you doing? I just went thru what I would call a mess between lyrica and gabapentin. I had to taper down over a 3 week period from Lyrica. It was not fun at all. I went from 600mg to 300mg the first 2 weeks. Then 1 tablet every other day for a week. I'm just finishing up my last week. I've had shaking and trembling all week. I'm so tired of these feelings was they're making me go crazy. I'm shaking so much, I can barely type. I hate what the 2 drugs have done to me. Not to mention, I'm still suffering from a frozen shoulder. I don't know whether to cry from the drugs or the pain.
I hope you have better luck than I did. You dont need to suffer like I have. You have enough to worry about. I wish you luck in your endeavors.
In peace,
Tee
Hi Tee, sorry your suffering so much, I remember having a frozen shoulder way back it was so uncomfortable. I am not too bad, suffering still and this blurry vision has not shown any improvement yet. I am so worried about loosing my sight, talking to my PCP yesterday I think she was put out because I went to see my local optician who will be checking my eyes again tomorrow afternoon. So I will post an update on the site when I get back and have the time to do so. Take Care, Liz
Dearest Liz,
I am so sorry and saddend to hear that your vision is still so bad. I dont blame you for seeking more help by going to your optician to get your eyes checked. Sometimes we must do everything possible to protect our health. I hope you can get the help you need. You arevin my thoughts and prayers, Liz. I wish you the best in findjing the help you need. Please keep me posted. Take care.
Wishing you peace,
Tee
I take lyrica for stopping painful muscle spasms caused by neural damage due to spinal stenosis. It was of immediate benefit with no down side, I got some proper sleep for the first time in a long time. I have been on it for 3 and a half years I am on 100mg twice per day. So 600mg whether its total over the day or once daily seems to be too much. Elsewhere on this site you will find this "The maximum recommended dose of LYRICA is 100 mg three times a day (300 mg/day)" I would seek a second opinion about your drug regime from a certified medical professional.
Hi Liz, you already know my view on Lyrica, & my hubby takes gabapentin at 1200mg a day & doesn't have the blurry vision. I have never heard of anyone having withdrawals from reducing or stopping Lyrica. Your doctor should know it is a side effect of Lyrica & shouldn't be increasing it! That really surpirses me. I hope you can get to the bottom of this & soon. I hate seeing you suffer so. I have been so sick with this virus thing, haven't even been online but a minute at a time. So sorry I haven't been there for you girl. When I had the high blood pressure episode in February, & swelled up ankles, my PCP had me stop it immediately all at once. It is a seizure drug & that isn't advisable if you are prone to seizures, but it didn't hurt me & I think I have told you my vision cleared right up & the weight fell off me because it was all water. I know this has been a concern of yours too.
I am not advicing you to just stop the Lyrica, that is a decision you & your doctor must make, but read the info on Lyrica. I will post it below for you. It staes about the blurry vision being a SERIOUS side effect of taking it. Whenever I dropped my dose my vision got better & everytime I increased it got worse. Now I don't have blurry vision at all. That could be contributing to your horrible headaches too. See the link below... Mary
https://www.drugs.com/lyrica.html
Great answer Mar. I'm glad your feeling better. I know how sick you have been lately, and it's just good to see you posting today honey. Liz, I had the same side effects when I tried to take it too. I had to stop immediately. I so hope you fins something to help soon. You ladies have a good nights sleep and hopefully I will talk to you tomorrow or see you on the site. Love, Ruthie
Thanks Mary, sorry I didn't answer yesterday I spent most of the day at the hospital and the Migraine hit like a ton of bricks. I remember us talking about Lyrica, and it was hearing others wanting to get of the Lyrica and what you have said about this drug that I think I want to at least try and come down or come of it altogether. I am struggling to find a new PCP when I seem to find one I like and the try and find out about the Dr I picked, there either moved on, not taking new Pt's on or have not so great reviews. But I am going to work on this again today and maybe call the manufacturer of Lyrica and ask them about the withdraws I experienced before, Plus I think I will call my local pharmacy about what I can take for the withdraw also, then go from their. Thanks for the site info I will look at that later, I am so glad you have managed to get on the site again and start doing your magic. Stay well, Liz x
Hi Ruthie, Thanks for taking the time to answer, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. If your still interested in seeing the photo's of the things I have made let me know and I will send them to you today, I am home all day today. Take care Liz.
Of course I am girfriend. I'm going to clean up real fast and will get back with you in a little while. Ruthie
Liz, I'm worried about you getting those new glasses. I did in January & when they took my Lyrica away, now I need new ones again since my vision went back to it's normal bad!
Mary, don't worry I am not going to agree to new glasses until my local optician tells me it is time. That is why he didn't do it two weeks ago, because he wanted to wait to see if they get better first. He isn't like that, although I am sure others might take advantage of the situation to make a buck or two I can trust him. Hope your day was better, I am hurting a fair bit today and it has been tough to handle. I so don't want to be like this anymore, this really sucks. Liz x
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