Why does Lyrica cause anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts in some people? I was first put on Neurontin, which sent me into this black hole of depression, then they put me on Lyrica and I still was severely depressed. Now I'm taking antidepressants together with the Lyrica and it seems to help. Does Lyrica deplete one of serotonin or is it something else playing a role here? Thank you.
Why does Lyrica cause anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts?
Question posted by Oldriska on 12 Sep 2012
Last updated on 28 December 2021
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.
20 Answers Page 2
ZacharyJ
19 Feb 2013
I am currently withdrawaling from lyrica. I have been walking around aimlessly for hours by myself in the middle of the night. I have thought about killing myself several times and I am just so depressed. i have this feeling in my stomach like anxiety but it never goes away. i feel insane and dont know what to do. I had no idea that these were side effects of the drug. Im glad i know that now. I have always been a very depressed person and ive never felt this way before. I cant sleep, im constantly sweating and freezing. When will this stop? please i need to know . i need help
Oldriska
20 Feb 2013
Hi ZacharyJ,
Like you I tried to wean myself off Lyrica and got bad physical and mental reaction. I returned to taking Lyrica only after 6 days. After some time I made another attempt at discontuing the medication and this time round I was successful. I admit to replacing the Lyrica with very little marijuana for a month, which helped me a lot to overcome the anxiety and physical pain. However, I never had depression or any such condition before my trigeminal pain started, and I used the marijuana with caution and strictly as advised. From my experience talking to doctors is crucial - where my neuro didn't know how to help me overcome Lyrica's side effects my psychiatrist saved my life by countrebalancing Lyrica's side effect by another medication. Find a good doctor who you can trust and don't be afraid to get him involved in your problem. Ask for help when you need it - most people are not able to deal with pain and depression on their own, and they shouldn't be... there IS help out there. Good luck and take good care of you, Oli
connie sherrill
16 April 2013
Just went through this for 6 days before I got my refill. It was the worst withdrawal of my life. The answer is to take the lyrica as prescribed. And never run out!! The benefits are amazing. Just be careful about dosing. You should feel better as soon as you get the Med back in your system. Take care
ProphetHyBriD
8 Jan 2017
@Oldriska , I am new to taking Lyrica. I was prescribed Neurontin (gabapentin) for a long time but my doctor decided to try me on Lyrica (pregabalin). The first 2 or 3 days were amazing for me. It really helped me out tremendously and with more than just the nerve pain. It helped me out mentally as well. It was also hard to want to sleep, it's like I wanted to stay up and enjoy the feeling because I hadn't had that feeling in so long where I felt young again. Anyway, I am currently on day 3 and after that 2 and a half to 3 day mark or so, I started feeling depressed, anxious, a little paranoid, and I can't keep track of my thoughts well at all. I get like stuck. I suffer from depression sometimes and it used to be all the time and really bad. I was also diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder, minor OCD, and depression/anxiety but I am not being treated for those anymore.
The neurontin actually takes care of a lot of the symptoms of those diseases and Lyrica helped a lot too but not right now. After reading up on it a lot and hearing what you guys are saying I don't want to take more, thinking that I need to up my dose but I was wondering, out of curiosity, what did your psychiatrist prescribe you that balanced out the side effects of Lyrica for you??? Please let me know, because I could at least mention that to my doctor. I know that everyone is different but you never know. It would help me for at least some deductive reasoning if nothing else. Thank you so much and I am praying that we all find the solutions to our problems because these issues that deal with the very fabric and makeup of our minds is a very serious one indeed. Very serious!
Kracker55
13 Oct 2017
Lyrica is a very last resort drug in my opinion very dangerous more dangerous than Oxy. It made me feel out of body, freezing hands feet and fingers as well as a numb face and hands. My pain got worse and the zombie fog was miserable. I HATE these mental drugs for pain especially when they don't have a clue how they work. The FDA is a joke for letting half the mess on the market
MacIntosh12
12 Sep 2012
Hi Oldriska, when I started neurontin I had the depression side effect, but the pain relief was so great I thought I'd give it the old college try. After one month the depression and anxiety were gone.
Now I take it for the pain relief with no depression, it works great for me.
It just depends upon a person's individual chemistry like kaismama has said.
Neither deplete serotonin, not that I've found, and I googled this several times, attempting to find an answer for you.
Good luck in finding a pain medication that works for you.
MacIntosh12
12 Sep 2012
Forgot to add, if anyone can find an answer for you, maso4169 is the man. He is incredibly smart about all medications.
MacIntosh12
12 Sep 2012
I've put my foot in my mouth once again, all the people that answered you are each incredibly smart about meds.
Sorry friends!
vanessa ham 1
21 Jan 2013
hi oldriska i started on neurontin as well an then went on to lyrica i dont get a high of lyrica but it def helps my neck.I couldnt turn my neck at all but iv found that lyrica really helped with the pain.I tried to come lyrica to see what would happen and after 3 days I couldnt move again I was completely froze up so I know it works for me.It doesn,t help my arthritis or fibromyalgia or anywhere else for that matter just my neck and ive had this for 29 yrs good luck at finding something that works for you.
shiffy5650
12 Nov 2014
Robin Williams was taking Lyrica and Mirtzipan ,Lyricas known to cause sucicidal thoughts... why is this not being discussed?? JRS
Sassy66
20 Feb 2018
I am on Lyrica and hydrocodone , Tysabri and Wellbutrin. I have to be on an antidepressant with the Tysabri. I did not have actual suicidle thoughts until they put me on Lyrica. Lyrica did not work on me the first time I asked if I could try it again and it seems to work right now. Just be patient, find a good pain Dr that care about his or her patients. They should be able to answer all your questions.
Inactive
12 Sep 2012
Hello Oldriska. Its your own chemical disposition, the manner that it interacts with the drug. Not unusual. A example is Zoloft. Not know as a drug when taken will put weight on a person. But say a token few do put weight on. Its then recorded as a side effect, and listed as such. Most all the psychiatric drugs carry the side effects you mentioned. Regards pledge
kaismama
12 Sep 2012
I really don't know if they know why, they've just observed it in their studies.
Chuckmeister
13 March 2017
If you don't know why did you bother to respond? Senseless.
Chuckmeister
13 March 2017
If you don't know why did you bother to respond? Senseless.
bailey1060
1 Feb 2018
This contributor is just noting that no one knows yet but that it was only observed in their studies. Please don't chastise contributors for their comments.
Inactive
12 Sep 2012
Yes, Lyrica can cause anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, if you where to experience any of these possible side effects seek medical attention immediately.
Click on the link for more detailed information:
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/lyrica-side-effects.html
Take care,
maso.-
Inactive
12 Sep 2012
I misread your question, did not read the "Why", I am researching and will get back to you, or perhaps another member has the answer, but in the meantime as I wrote I am trying to find an answer.
devinder489
12 Sep 2012
Doctor advised me to use pregabalin,i can manage my problem by consuming less dose. Can this action be OK.
Florluisa
9 Aug 2017
I had a friend that was prescribed lyrica and he was already depressed and was an alcoholic. Two years ago when I left to visit my daughter for Christmas he passed away. I came home and went to see him and no one would answer the door. I thought maybe he was mad at me because I had left for the holidays. So I left him a line for awhile. But then I kept calling him and there was no answer. So I asked the neighbor. He told me he was found dead in the house. He told me he had been acting strange yelling and upset. And one of the neighbors he didn't get along with had beat him with a bat and he had been taken to the hospital. Mind you I had already called the police to to see if anything had happened. They said nothing had been reported. Buy the time I found out what had happened he had already been cremated and no autopsy was done. To this day I think the medications they gave him caused his death. He should have never been given that medication "lyrica".
Be very careful some doctors are very loose with their prescriptions. Not only that they had taken all his things and wouldn't let me get an if my things out of the house. They sold everything he had and his home. If I hadn't called his sister in France he would have just been forgotten. The people in charge of the body were indicted for fraud. This happened in Fresno California and I never got any answers about his death. But I truly think that medication had something to do with his death. Be careful read all the side effects and ask questions. If you don't feel comfortable about the medication don't take it. I have fibromyalgia and they tried to give me that medication and I refused it.
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