My 18 year old daughter has been on 150mg of Lyrica 3x a day for 2 months for nerve pain in her foot after a stingray injury and 2 surgeries. Her nerve pain is gone and the side effects of Lyrica are really effecting her. How important is it to wean off the Lyrica very slowly? Are there withdrawal symptoms that people experience?
How important is it to wean off Lyrica slowly?
Question posted by mom2jjc on 16 Sep 2012
Last updated on 6 August 2022
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
30 Answers Page 2
Hi all
I've been on Lyrica since January this year @ 150 split dose day and night for nerve pain and fibromyalgia.
I have been tapering off for the last month ... now on 50mg for the past few days and I feel like absolute crap!!!
Can't move, can't go to gym to help manage the depression and now I'm facing quitting cigarettes today. I suffer depression and have been on Zoloft 150mg for 10 yrs.
I took a single dose of doxcilamine succinct to help me sleep last night and now I feel like a zombie.
Had my first migraine in 3 yrs ( used to suffer all the time)
Australia has banned otc codeine so I'm limited to 20 panadeine forte on script per 3 weeks.
My kidneys hurt and I feel like my withdrawals are already kicking in even though I haven't even stopped Lyrica completely.
My nerve pain is back thanks to foraminal nereve impingment @ C3/4 & C5/6.
I'm unemployed and can't afford physio or alternative treatment.
Supplements don't work, maybe because I suffer Crohn's disease as well but my vision is improving and I'm starting to feel like I don't have dementia anymore - which have been the main symptoms as well as wight gain from Lyrica.
I think Lyrica should be BANNED for pain treatment and more should be done to help those with no money to access physical therapies for free.
People say: push through the pain when work gets difficult, but that's what I did and now I feel I should have listened to my body instead.
I have qualification in fitness but instead I feel debilitated and don't know how I'm going to get through this week.
In a nutshell - STOP TAKING LYRICA!
If you have a loved one on it be patient with them and persevere!
Thank you for allowing me to vent here and wish you all the best with your struggles
Hi Hanna69. You are still in the window for going back up a bit on Lyrica. If I was you that’s what I would do. It will slow down the symptoms of withdrawals and you will be able to begin to taper off slowly when you feel like your body is ready to. Hi everyone. I have tried to mention that when you taper down and remove 10% that you do it by water titration. This way it will not bother your stomach. I learned this on a group on Facebook called Lyrica Survivors. They helped me so much with information. Between this group ‘Drugs.com’ and the other group I thankfully am completely off Lyrica! It can be done. You really have to pay attention to what your body is telling you; because we are all different so what might work for one may or may not work for you. I wish everyone the best and please take care
Hi Candy-59
Thank you for your feedback
I'm not sure I'd want to taper up again as my adverse mental side effects and blurred vision are the main reason for wanting to stop taking Lyrica. And the muscle fatigue is overbearing most of the time.
I'm glad I found this site because I thought I haven't felt like myself for months and the information and similar experiences have been informative.
Although I'm satisfied with my GP overall, I'm very disappointed in how little information I was provided on commencement of this prescription.
Interestingly... whenever I mentioned I was on Lyrica I was met with concerned responses.
As for the comment by a member that we shouldn't seek advice online...
I would have not found out about the REAL symptoms and withdrawal from Lyrica.
Thank you
Hi Hanna69.
I hope you’re feeling better today. I absolutely agree with you not going back up in your dosage when you are having those problems. I always believe that we know our bodies the best and should go by how we feel. It won’t be long and you will be off Lyrica and then you can start rebuilding your life back to what it was before this poison (IMO). I always took care of myself my whole life doing exercises and always on the go; but then after being on Lyrica for 7-8 years and Cymbalta for 8-9 years I had no muscle left, no energy and many other problems. I finished tapering off Lyrica last year (June 2017). I’m tapering off Cymbalta now and hope to be tapered off by mid to late summer. It has been a nightmare; but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! xo
It is very important to taper off Lyrica slowly! You should start out tapering at no more than 10% and you should hold there for about 2 weeks. Then you can continue doing that and go by how your body feels as to whether you should taper lower than 10% and/or longer than 2 weeks. When you get closer to the end many people have to taper at a lower rate. I hope everyone is doing well. Take care xo
Cindy59
Thanks Cindy and everyone else who has added to this discussion. Every time I think I am feeling a tad better the nausea and dizziness come back. I was better yesterday, yuck today and have been at 25 mg 1 x day for 14 days now. Since 25 mg is the lowest dose capsule (right?) does anyone know if the capsules emptied into a measured amount of warm water and mixed well and a divided dose used- does it do anything to the medication itself? The capsules themselves melt quickly in warm water and when I went to 50 mg a day I tried taking it that way in 1/2 doses AM and PM before my Dr wrote for the 25 mg caps. I have left over 50 mg capsules that I will use up when I go below 25 mg a day, or even to continue at that dose if it is OK to melt the capsules. Thanks again!
Hi again to everyone who has been helpful. I cannot believe what Lyrica has done to my body. I stayed at 25 mg/day for a full month. I had been on 50 mg 3x's day for over a decade and after detoxing off 15 years of narcotics from a pain clinic, after several months I started having really weird symptoms and finally realized it was the Lyrica. I went from 150/day to 50 mg/day fairly fast and then to 25 mg/day and had 3 weeks of horrible detox.
I saw where someone recommended cutting 10 % per week and since I have no reason to hurry I thought that would work. I opened a 25 mg capsule poured out the powder and then removed 10%. I took 90% of the powder. The next morning I woke with diarrhea. No nausea but could tell it was from the Lyrica. I had an appointment with my internal med dr about another issue and could see his disbelief when I told him about the original detox off the Lyrica and why.
I planned to persist with cutting by 10% but by day 3 the diarrhea, severe burning in my stomach and fatigue were too much for me right now. I am dealing with a fracture in my sacrum that is still, after 2 1/2 months, keeping me in bed and I need to start a med for osteoporosis so I couldn't blur the lines of whether the new Rx could cause symptoms or it was all from the Lyrica. I went back to the full 25 mg yesterday and am devastated. When I've made up my mind in the past to quit something I have never backtracked and the fact that the symptoms were only getting worse after 3 days was overwhelming. I have no idea how long I will have to be on Lyrica. A friend suggested that maybe, since it's a low dose I should just stay on it. I am already back to being more dizzy again. It is the most bizarre situation I've ever dealt with and I am out of answers. I have phenergan for nausea but nothing helped the severe burning in my gut. Not pepcid or pepto. If anyone has any suggestions on what to do to get off this garbage I would so appreciate it. And I would tell anyone who has any other option- never swallow a single Lyrica!!! How do you cut the dose slower than by 10%? Has anyone tried spacing it out an hour at a time? 5 PM today, 6 PM tomorrow? What started the downward spiral was forgetting my Lyrica one night. I did not suffer the anxiety others have said they had when I went thru the 3 weeks of detox the 1st time but when I forgot the capsule I woke the next morning with waves of anxiety. not a full blown panic attack- I've had those. So I took a 25 mg capsule that day and the next day I tried the tiny decrease. If I was physically stronger I would do it but I am beat up by this horrible drug and by my months of bedrest. Thanks for any suggestions.
I have to make one final... YAY... post about Lyrica!!! So my info will be all in one post- I was on Lyrica for over a decade, along with high dose narcotic meds from a pain clinic that I had been on for 15 years. I detoxed off the narcotics, by choice, last fall. To my knowledge I had never had a problem with the Lyrica but also didn't think I had nerve pain and planned to get off it eventually.
Four months after getting off the narcotics I started having a multitude of side effects from the Lyrica. I wanted off. I did the initial wean from 150 mg/day to 50 mg/day in about a week and had 3 weeks of severe effects: Nausea, diarrhea, severe abdominal burning, skin burning, insomnia.. BUT my double vision and dizziness started to clear.
I finally went to 25 mg and stayed at that dose for almost a month. Taking someone's advice to cut by 10% per week I opened a capsule and removed 10% and took the remaining 90%. The next morning- the gastric side effects were back, much to my dismay. I stuck it out for a few days but even tho I was sure I was taking at least 90% of the powder, it only got worse and I went back to 25 mg. I was so discouraged.
I started extending my hours between doses. I went from 25 mg every 24 hours to 1 capsule e
very 25 hours, then every 26 hours, then 27 hours. If I started to feel effects I would stay at a certain spacing for 2 days. I had to set my alarm and make a chart to keep up with it but it worked!!! When the doses got farther apart I started moving forward by 2 hours. Then I got really brave and went 3 and then 4 hours. When it got to 25 mg spaced 53 hours apart I had to take a capsule because I had a Dr's appt and couldn't be in the bathroom, doubled over with pain but I then went to 55 hours and then 56 hours. When I got to that level I was able to stop and had almost no side effects. I waited 5 days before I felt 'safe'. And my body feels better already!!! I had headaches and very faint abdominal burning but compared to anything else I had attempted, this was the way for my body to adjust.
God bless everyone who has to deal with finding answers to chronic pain and navigate the pros and cons of all medications, both Rx and OTC.
I have to add to a post I put a few weeks ago about weaning off Lyrica. I had just started the decrease from 50 mg 3 x's a day for over a decade. I had my Dr write for a month of 25 mg capsules so I could really take it slow. The nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach pain, burning skin and vision issues have been terrible. I have been at 25 mg 1 x/day for 12 days. The diarrhea has stopped but I am still nauseated and hardly able to eat. My stomach feels like I have a fire in it and after eating some pizza 2 days ago I could trace my intestines because of the feeling of fire in them as well. I am taking pepcid 2x's a day plus usually pepto bismol 2-3 x's a day. I have tried everything for nausea and the phenergan seems to help over other Rx's and hemp oil. I have also tried OTC med for motion sickness. I have finally been able to sleep without ambien for 2 nights in a row. So I know the insomnia I had was caused by the Lyrica.
After so many years on Lyrica I wonder if I will ever feel normal again! I would never have started it had I been proactive in my health! Good luck to everyone with the process!!!
I am so thankful I came to this site and found this conversation! I realize some of the answers are old and I pray that everyone with such extreme problems has found relief! I'm a retired nurse but I am woefully bad at research when it comes to my own health issues. I trusted a pain clinic for 15+ years. I was on such a high does of a narcotic that only one Dr in the clinic would prescribe my meds each month. I have detoxed off everything and am now wanting to get off the Lyrica that was added years ago. What some of you mention- the fluctuation of blood pressure, headaches, ER visit for a sudden increase in heart rate to 130 for hours ... Lyrics being the cause never occurred to me. At my highest I was on 50 mg 4 times a day. I didn't stay there long b/c it wasn't helping and the expense of the drug is huge. I was going to wean off the narcotics and the Lyrica at the same time but knew that was not smart.
I have had a real problem with migraines for years that had basically stopped after menopause. I'm 66 now. But they have been back with a vengeance. I have been on 1 Lyrica 50 mg AM and one in the PM for 5 days, down from 3 a day. Last night I woke with some familiar withdrawal symptoms so I will take it very slowly but can't wait to be totally off what I feel is a very dangerous drug! Can anyone tell me how long after they were off it took to feel like 'normal' again?
Hi Pawlove. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get a notification that you were making more comments on this thread. I’m glad to hear that you’re migraines are gone and that you’ve tapered down more. I hope that you’re doing it slowly. We have a saying that goes ‘Slow wins the race’. It is very important for you to stick to at least 10% every 2 weeks. If you feel like your body can take more then that’s fine. The closer you get to the end you will probably have to go slower. I’ve been having a hard time also! These types of drugs can do a lot of damage. I can’t tell you how long it will take you to feel normal again because everyone is different. I will tell you that it can be done and you can do it! Hang in there and take care. If you need to talk or just to rant I’m here. I will do whatever I can to help you get through this. You are not alone. xo
I found out through my own experience that it is very important to wean off Lyrica slowly. There are side effects and withdrawal symptoms, legs aching, nauseous, my stomach hurt, I felt so lethargic, typical withdrawal symptoms like you would experience weaning off of a pain medication. I hope this helps, I know the side effects of Lyrica can be a little heavy at first but I have gotten used to my dose and it doesn't make me dizzy anymore. But it's wonderful that her pain is gone, and it definitely makes sense to stop the Lyrica, but don't do it suddenly. Just take her down slowly, do you have enough medication to wean her off? Will her doctor help you with that?
I was taking 600 mg per day. Have been for years now. Getting off it as the side affects are just as bad as the cure. I gained 30 pounds, it affected my eyesight, my hearing, my memory. I'm always tired, depressed. I get rapid heart palpitations. I get hotflashes and on and on. I'm getting off it very slowly as the side affect are just as bad. I go down 25 mg every few WEEKS and they are not too bad. It might take longer but you won't feel so sick. It's been about a year now and I'm down to 100 mg per day. Don't be in a hurry(not worth it). Don't bother asking your doctor about it as they don't really believe that you get all these side affects when your on it or when your trying to stop taking it. I told my doctor what I was doing. If people are reading these sites to decide if they should try lyrica, DON'T DO IT!!! You will regret it! It comes a point that it stops working anyway. Good luck everyone!
I cannot believe that your doctor's have you on that high of a dose. I'm only taking 75mg every other day. And I feel awful. This medication changed me. I don't know who I am anymore. I work for a County Attorney's Office and I can barely get through the day. I couldn't imagine taking 600 mg a day. I pray you make it off this horrible drug. God Bless
I too are on 600mg per day. I have been mean, short tempered and aggressive for the longest time and couldn't figure out why. In the past 6 months I've been involved in 4 road rage incidents and if it wasn't for the interference from an off duty police officer, I would have put the assistant coach of my sons baseball team in the hospital. My wife told me on Friday that she doesn't recognize me anymore. That scared the bejezus out of me. Decided to look in to the side effects of this horrible pill. Described my symptoms to a tee. As of yesterday, I cut my dosing down by 150mg per dose (cut daily intake by half). I hope getting off this garbage will return me to my "normal" self.
I’m off the Lyrica completely now and my memory seems a little bit better now. I’m glad I’m off them! They used to control my life. Still have headaches and back aches but trying to find other ways to deal with them. If you find that you are feeling sick or getting irritable cutting half, don’t cut down too much at a time, take your time. Will be easier on you and your family! Good luck and take care
I’m off the Lyrica completely now and my memory seems a little bit better now. I’m glad I’m off them! They used to control my life. Still have headaches and back aches but trying to find other ways to deal with them. If you find that you are feeling sick or getting irritable cutting half, don’t cut down too much at a time, take your time. Will be easier on you and your family! Good luck and take care
Hi I'm on lycra gabapentin
And I have fibromyalgia and since being on this drug I have had diarea quite badly so want also to come off I think a slow withdrawal is best I'm on one a day anyone else have this. Thanks Angie.
My wife was hospitalized after complications from a stomach sleeve operation. She had been on 100 mg Lyrica twice a day. One of the genius doctors took her off Lyrica completely and she began having massive seizures. Back up to ICU for four days to get her stabilized.
Are you sure she was on Lyrica? It doesn't come in 100mg dose
I was on Lyrica 75 mg once per day for 2 years after 2 15-hour spine surgeries with hardware. I started getting ankle swelling, twitches, fatigue, diarrhea, increased hunger, weight gain, forgetfulness. I weaned off by taking 75mg every other day for two weeks then 75 mg every three days for three weeks, then off. Yes, I have increased pain, but the nasty side effects are gone. I didn't realize what was causing the side effects until I stopped. I feel much better.
I am on 150 bid. My family said I am becoming a different person. Mean, aggravated and short tempered. I would rather be in pain. My grands are starting to avoid me.
I cut my dosage in half today. Then next Sunday only 1 am dose.
I'm done!!
Hi @Gogee
How are you now? Good luck.
i am on 150 twice daily what is the safe amount i can reduce this by
They say don't use the Internet for medical advice so - I have been on 225mg Lyria morning and night for 2 years.
I said to my specialist that I did not think they were helping with the pain but were making me thick headed and could I stop them - his comment was just stop.
So I have and no side effects at all!
So you just stopped? I am on 75mg and i don’t feel it’s helping at all. Gaining weight and BP way too high.
@rickyb
Ta for your very interesting comments. I am over 65 and dont know if i should wean off like u as I would love to. Im on 75 mg Lyrica twice a day and its definitely having an effect on my memory. What age bracket are you?
I actually take Lyrica 150mg twice a day. Any time I would skip a dose on accident, I would get really bad headaches. Thats the only thing I could really pin point.
I get the same thing with the lyrica... do u ever have problems with blood pressure along with the headaches?
I have migraines and blood pressure went from 97/60 to 138/94 was really low. I ended up in the er last weekend and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Had swelling all over my body so bad in legs and feet I couldn't walk, tremors, confusion, no sleep for 3 days but exhausted all the time, gained 20 lbs in 5 weeks 15 in last two weeks, vision issues, echoing inside my head, hot flashes, burning and tingling in limbs. And the er just let me leave and drive home didn't even think to check into the increase I had in my lyricia a week prior to feeling this badly. I think it's the lyricia I'm trying to taper back down to my original dose of 50 mg twice a day suppose to be three times a day. I increased to 225 a day and need to get off it I think. I feel horrible. Like I'm gonna die if this is the medication and I have been having a reaction the hole time I have been on it. WOW. Any feedback is welcome.
I went down to 100 a day again now I'm nauseous, still bad headache but have lost 7 lbs in four days and swelling better. Should I just stop taking it all
Together. My doctors are not helping at all. I moved out of state and have all new doctors 13 specialist and have to use va insurance so the care is terrible.
I am trying to wean off the Lyrica assisted by my doctor. It has caused me weight gain and the side effects aren't worth me staying on it. I have been on it for 5 yrs now and 2 different occasions I was without it for almost 6 days because of waiting on Prior Authorization from insurance company.it was hell. When something affects you the way it does when you don't have it then I decided to get off it.pray for me during this process.
I was taking 600 mg per day. Have been for years now. Getting off it as the side affects are just as bad as the cure. I gained 30 pounds, it affected my eyesight, my hearing, my memory. I'm always tired, depressed. I get rapid heart palpitations. I get hotflashes and on and on. I'm getting off it very slowly as the side affect are just as bad. I go down 25 mg every few WEEKS and they are not too bad. It might take longer but you won't feel so sick. It's been about a year now and I'm down to 100 mg per day. Don't be in a hurry(not worth it). Don't bother asking your doctor about it as they don't really believe that you get all these side affects when your on it or when your trying to stop taking it. I told my doctor what I was doing. If people are ready these sites to decide if they should try lyrica, DON'T DO IT!!! You will regret it! It comes a point that it stops working anyway. Good luck everyone!
I have the same reaction to Lyrica! Weird blood pressure issues, dehydration, pins and needles all over my body, pain from head to toe, hot flashes, no desire to get out of bed... this is sticking with the same dose for the last year.
I NEED to get off but I’m terrified every time I try because the withdrawal is so bad. It cost me a music career, it cost me a year with my new baby, it cost me my life - I want it back. How do I taper off without the horrible symptoms?
Thanks guys!
Hi mom2jjc - I hope you are well and that you are enjoying your experience here at DC. Your post caught my attention so I wanted to chime in here as well.
If your daughter has the 75mg capsules and did the typical tapering "up" to get at her clinical dose... she would do the reverse in tapering "off". So she would reduce something like this:
Every 2 days reduce her dose by ONE, 75mg capsule until she is off.
If she has 150mg capsules I would suggest she take it like this:
Every 2 days reduce her dose by ONE, 150mg capsule until she is off. Sometimes they recommend a slightly slower taper, too. If she wants to do that then "EVERY 3 DAYS... REDUCE INGESTION BY ONE, 150MG CAPSULE...
If she has any withdrawal symptoms... she can ask her doctor for a mild or low dose of diazepam or clonazepam. Neither of these meds has a propensity toward withdrawal symptoms when taken for less than 3 weeks.
Good luck and I hope your daughter recovers soon and back to her same self quickly.
Mary
Thank you for your help!
My pleasure and I hope your daughter doesn't have to go through that again!
: (
Mary
Hi well I have beeN reading Some of what people have put on here me Ian on 600 mg are day and I had none for 3days and I got realy sick light head and dizz
I was taking 600 mg per day. Have been for years now. Getting off it as the side affects are just as bad as the cure. I gained 30 pounds, it affected my eyesight, my hearing, my memory. I'm always tired, depressed. I get rapid heart palpitations. I get hotflashes and on and on. I'm getting off it very slowly as the side affect are just as bad. I go down 25 mg every few WEEKS and they are not too bad. It might take longer but you won't feel so sick. It's been about a year now and I'm down to 100 mg per day. Don't be in a hurry(not worth it). You don't want to start taking other drugs to reduce symtoms while you are getting off Lyrica! Don't bother asking your doctor about it as they don't really believe that you get all these side affects when your on it or when your trying to stop taking it. I told my doctor what I was doing. If people are ready these sites to decide if they should try lyrica, DON'T DO IT!!! You will regret it! It comes a point that it stops working anyway. Good luck everyone!
Hi Mary. I'm taking one 75 mg Lyrica every other day. I couldn't take more than that as the Lyrica has changed my attitude. I'm confused and dizzy. Right this very moment I have a bad headache. I need help. The Pain Specialist that prescribed the Lyrica told me nothing about the medication. She didn't tell me anything about withdrawals. She just assumed I was a drug seeker and wanted to cause me more discomfort than I already had. I am desperate to get off this drug. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Ruth
@ Brendawalsh I am weaning off lyrica and suffering the same symptoms
I have consulted a homeopathic practitioner to assist with my health. I soon hope to be completely pharmaceutical free.
Yes, she could experience some mild withdrawal if she doesn't take a week to 10 days to taper off the Lyrica. Symptoms of withdrawal from Lyrica may include agitation, mood swings and possible diarrhea. There is no need to go through a long taper process, but reducing her daily dosage by 150mgs every 3 -4 days should be sufficient to avoid withdrawals.
thank you for taking the time to write back!
I am on pregabalin for fybromyalgia, 75mg x2a day, they are helping some of my painful areas but not all, Ifeel Drs do not understand, and fob me off by puting every thing down to my fybromyalgia, I have long suffered this problem according to Drs I have managed to keep of medication as I don't like putting chemicles into my body, then in Jan of this year I had fluoroscopy for my rotary cuff tear 3 or4 days latter I was in a wheel chair unable to walk, my hands seized up I was in chronic pain the Drs said it was my fybromyalgia but I don't think they can put every thing down to fybromyalgia, am I wrong or has anyone else had similar experience, oh by the way I am coming of the pregabalin, it's like putting a band aid around problems .
I know you posted this a long time ago, but I have also finally reached my max with doctors who act like they listen but never HEAR me. I left my pain dr yesterday feeling the lowest I have ever felt, which really says something. I had typed up everything from my notes between visits, and he wouldn't even take the time to skim it or give me a chance to talk about it. To top it all off, I am chasing one drug (prescribed, not street) with another because of the side effects. And I don't feel any better. I still cry myself to sleep every night; some because my fibro is flaring, but every night because the neuropathy in my foot is so bad I want to die. So, I will be starting w the lyrica because I think it affects me more than my other meds, mind and body... a total of almost 600 mg a day.
Ive had Fibromyalia since a work injury as RN 1992.
No help as its seen as a mental health issue.Well I finally found SAMe 400mg by Nutrition Care and it works .Try it for 10 days... It was so amazing after all the terrible drug reactions to things the drs chuck at fibro sufferers to shut us up.
Nov 2018 I had total knee replacement from that injury and started Lyrica 75mg bd in hospital for sciatic nerve pain on that side.It sort of works but need to stop now .7 wks post op today.
I have dropped Am dose to 25mg and will try this for a few days.I'll be glad to get off it. Does this plan sound reasonable for gradual decrease?
Hey @brendawalsh, chronic pain is pain that lasts 6+ months, I don't doubt, that with fibromyalgia you don't have chronic pain, but pain from surgery, injury, etc, is acute pain; it is not long lasting.
It's more important that than the original care she received. Contact the prescribing physician and advise of the situation, follow the instructions for decreasing to the letter. The more time and the more gradual the better. The sides she is experiencing now are pure joy compared to what the consequences and WD from stopping to fast/on your own can be. Just my 2-cents, hope it helps.
Thank you for taking the time to write me back!
I am on 30 my 1 x d and ran out for 5 days and was miserable for those 5 days. You have to go slowly when reducing . very important!
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lyrica, pain, neuralgia, side effect
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- Lyrica prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lyrica (detailed)
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