User Reviews for Pregabalin to treat Pain
Brand names: Lyrica, Lyrica CR
Pregabalin has an average rating of 6.6 out of 10 from a total of 159 reviews for the off-label treatment of Pain. 57% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 26% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Pregabalin
"I have been having major back pain for over 6 years, I have been on numerous narcotics ( hydrocodone, Tramadol, codeine ) then my Doctor gave me a script for pregablin (lyrica), it sat in my cupboard as I was scared to take it so many horrible reviews. Then one day I decided to try it, WOW 3 days on it and I take anywhere from 100mg to 150mg daily. The first 2 days I was tired, almost zombie like and could not keep eyes open but now I feel great, no pain and no need for strong painkillers ( which is huge I have been taking codeine for 5 years ). My mood has improved as well, dare I say I feel happy again? I know it has only been a few days but so far pregabalin has changed my life for the better"
"I have had severe pain to the point I have lost my ability to walk and need to use a wheel chair for the past seven years. My DR. (last year) put me on Lyrica and it saved my life! I had been put on every type of pain killer and I needed a lot of them. Now I have lower doses of my pain medicines and I feel tons better! Anyone who is looking into this medication PLEASE at least try it, take it as you told to by your DR. and give it four weeks to fully work it's magic, I almost asked my DR. to take me off it, three weeks into taking it, but my wife told me to give it one more week and BOOM! she was right. It's not like anything you have ever tried! My only problem with it is it needs time to work. It's worth the wait!"
Frequently asked questions
- Lyrica vs Gabapentin: What's the difference?
- How long does it take for Lyrica to work?
- How long does Lyrica stay in your system?
- Is Lyrica a controlled substance / narcotic?
"Given this pregabalin after several other meds failed to rid me if my agonising pain of 4 bulging disc (sat on root nerves in my lower back, can’t lay can’t sleep can’t cope !). For me pregabalin is a miracle cure for now I must admit (I’ve read the bad reviews but not the case for me ) never through I’d rid this agony whilst waiting for back op, if I gain weight or anything similar I’ll take it to be pain free (first time in a year )"
"The last year I've been so crippled with anxiety and tension headaches, lots of pain (I have ME/fibro) and I've not wanted to live much longer. I was put on pregablin for my bad anxiety and pain (which was behind my eyes and all over my scalp and temples), pain killers had been doing nothing. Since taking the pregablin I feel absolutely amazing, the pain has vanished and the anxiety and I want to go out there and live again."
Are you taking this medicine?
"I've had really bad years on opiates for pain, my wife died taking tramadol. I suffered so dreadfully until with much hesitation I tried Lyrica, 75mg twice daily, the results were very good, my fibromyalgic symptoms decreased substantially, it helps with my PTSD and I am less anxious"
"I had Hip joint pain (undiagnosed at the time). This drug Pregabalin ruined my life. I gained a massive amount of weight, suffered extreme aphasia, shaking, memory loss and more. It works at the start because it makes you high (precisely the reason they were allegedly using it to replace opioids) The withdrawal was the worst thing I ever experienced. I hallucinated, had depersonalisation, derealisation, restless limbs, insomnia- and it lasted for months. I now have severe chronic facial pain that started when I stopped Lyrica. Note that no scientific studies have been done on withdrawal and long term effects. Even today specialists dismiss the idea that it is addictive. studies have shown that it’s no more effective than a placebo. Please join the Facebook group called Lyrica Survivors for support. I have had my comment refused because science is “generalising”"
"I had swollen discs in my neck from falling off a ladder. Incredible pain. Contemplated suicide to stop the pain. Took a heap of Advil in one day with no help. Steroid injections and a chiropractor did nothing. 3 weeks of Lyrica at 200 mg a day and the pain was gone. Definite side effects of dizziness and blurred vision but worth it."
"Been suffering with low back pain worse in the buttocks and sometimes hips. Numbness, tingling in both legs. Underwent a laminotomy for spinal compression due to synovial cyst and facet joint disease. Have a couple herniated discs, but left alone in surgery...felt I would recover from this on its own as I have very mild degenerative disc disease.. Since taking Lyrica for only 3 days at a low dose my pain has subsided enough so I could actually leave my home to go out to dinner. Pain went from about "10" at its worst down to about a m "2-3". I would say try it as it may work for you. Side effects are less than gabapention."
"I've been on 75 mg twice a day for three months which took the edge off my sciatica but did little for lower back pain. A week ago my dosage increased to 150mg twice a day and my back pain is good and sciatica is gone. Additionally my general anxiety is eased. There's no worsening of my depression symptoms (I manage depression/anxiety with efexor). Aside from mild sedation I've had a great result from lyrica so far. Hope it continues working this well! :)"
Lyrica (pregabalin) "I have 4 curves in my back. Several bulging discs, chronic pain, due to the discs, osteoporosis, lordosis and kyphosis, with spinal stenosis. Lyrica has been a miracle for me. I have been using a walker for 8 years. Yesterday I went across the street, came back to my house to get the garden hose, back across the street to water my neighbors plants, and lugged the hose back home. Suddenly I realized, I forgot my walker. I completely forgot it. I wake in the morning, pain free. I am walking now without the walker, it has also improved my mood. I used to cry a lot, because I could not do the "normal" things, people my age can do. I am 50 years old, and have been on disability for 8 years. I feel like a new person."
"This tablet has given my my life back. I have chiari malformation and suffer with pain all over my body - electrical feeling pain. It would be constant and make me feel exhausted. I really didn't want to take medication and reading the reviews for pregabalin online are horrifying. But I was desperate for even a day with no pain. After a few days I felt relieved. I felt normal again, they've been amazing for me. Other than being tired I've had no side effects, but I was tired before from all the pain I was in. You never know how something will make you feel till you've given it a try."
"This medication is first line treatment in chronic pain. Its pharmacological side effects are quite similar to benzodiazepenes. Side effects include acute cognitive impairment, significant motor control reduction, loss of swift reflex's, inability to concentrate etc etc. Anyone who studied pharmacology knows that benzodiazepene's are far more addictive physically and mentally and the withdrawal can be LETHAL, via seizure and death, as compared to opiods/iates, where it will not kill but the withdrawal will be highly uncomfortable. So lyrica, gabapentin and the other drugs that fall into the category, at least of the way I lay them out as 'gaba-nergic' like, side effect, drugs. These drugs are MORE DANGEROUS THEN OPIODS. This is objective."
"I've been taking Pregabilin for approx 4 weeks. Started on 1 x 30mg cap, twice daily but I found taking 2 x 30mg at a time eased my pain better. Doc then changed prescription to 50mg twice daily. As a painkiller it is fantastic. I've never known a painkiller like it, however one bad side effect is my swollen feet. I fear that I will have to change to something else if it continues to make my feet swell, because it is extremely uncomfortable. Another side effect is the feeling of being drunk. It does however help me to sleep. I haven't slept this well in years, though I wake up feeling groggy. I could live with all these side effects, if I could overcome the swollen feet."
"I’ve been taking Lyrica for sciatica - it’s made me gain fat around my belly rapidly, makes me twitch; and another weird side effect is it effects my speech mid sentence sometimes - it’s like a sudden uncontrollable loud drawn out ‘ahhh’ - and it’s weird. Has anyone else had this? It’s difficult to describe - like a twitch of the vocal cords. Anyway, ideally want to get off this stuff-it works really well for pain after a buildup for about 4-6 weeks at 600mg per day, but the side effects are not great. I’m a U.K. NHS patient and pay £9 per prescription so ignore the insurance answers."
"Wow love this med....been in a lot if pain and nothing helped. I was on gabapentin, baclofen, Topamax, percocet...nothing gave me relief. I still have pain but it has been knocked down some and it does help me sleep. I have fibromyalgia, small fiber neuropathy, scoliosis, osteoarthritis, collapsed discs, disc disease."
"I am a nurse, so needless to say back pain like so many of us, but the nasty burning shooting kind of pain radiating from thoracic spine out around ribs. I am awaiting more testing as still figuring out what is wrong but put on lyrica about 3 weeks ago, some relief within a few days, dose increased, more relief. The dose increased again with good effect. I do notice if I am late on a dose or miss a dose, sure pay for it, takes some time for pain to come back under control. I say as I write this at 5 am having not slept a wink. I'm currently on 150 mg twice daily. I'm gaining a belly but have not gotten on the scales, initially giddy and absent minded but that has subsided even with dosage increases. I think its a good drug choice for me. here hoping."
"Lyrica has saved my life, just wish I'd have started taking it sooner and it would have saved my marriage. My pain is completely controlled and I am no longer taking anti-depressants. I didn't realize it helped with GAD, but it does. I actually feel human again and interact with others. It does have some side effects, can't concentrate and a drunk feeling but compared to the pain I was enduring, these side effects are worth it to me."
"Just started Lyrica for extreme pain in my thoracic spine after a workplace injury causing a muscular ligamentous tear of my medial scapula. I tried every sort of pain medication available with absolutely no relief. My Dr. prescribed Lyrica for me a few days ago and about 4 hours after the first dose I noticed a change in my level of pain. Had massive side effects though such as vertigo, dizziness, light headed, blurred vision, etc. I did have a fever though from an unrelated condition so I'm not sure whether it is related to the Lyrica. I have continued taking this medication with the hope that the side effects ease and the pain remains minimal. I'm worried about weight gain that others are talking about. I've just lost 25kg, don't want it back."
"I have been taking pregabalin for almost two months and my pain remains the same. I do not know what it is. Everything I use for pain does not work. Hydros, CBD gummies, gummies with marijuana in them (I have a medical marijuana card), InStaSlex, nothing. My doctors and doing nothing. Any suggestions appreciaed."
Lyrica (pregabalin) "Truly liberating to know that LYRICA helps alleviate my chronic pain. For over 30 years my very misunderstood condition has been mistreated, and I myself much maligned. Using high dose opiates became my way to deal with it as it least they worked to a degree. BUT 3 years ago, LYRICA helped change my life. IF ONLY IT WAS AROUND A LONG TIME AGO. Lyrica works."
"Been on Lyrica over 4 years, Tried other drugs before but didn't work, Insurance company for a couple years now have been trying to talk me into trying others again, I tried them before. The Lyrica works for the nerve damage in my legs. It feels like lighting bolts of pains shooting in legs and the Lyrica works on it. I go to get my meds this time and they made me get Pregabalin generic. Upset but thought I have no choice and started taking them. Within the first 3 days I knew they were not working like the Lyrica. The lighting bolts started to come back, I will have to admit they are not quite as bad as they were when I first got the nerve damage now its more like a medium lighting bolt, and once in a while a big one will hit. Kind of like if you had a cord that on the end of it just had 2 wires at the end of it, you plug it in the socket then touch the wire ends to your skin, you then get a big jolt. This is what it feels like when I say lighting bolt pains. And now what am I suppose to do as they won't pay for the lyrica :-("
"I'm forty and have degenerative disc disease in the spine for 7 lowest discs and the usual joys of debilitating chronic pain and sciatica and physical disability. An episode of severe pain and nerve issues recently meant I was signed off for 4 weeks to rest, however during this time my whole nervous and neurological pain got worse as well as physical collapse and spread to my face hands, arms and body functionality. The lowest point in five years thus far. I was put on Pregablin 75mg /2x day and although the first week was strange with hyper elation, a foggy mind and some humorous speech issues but when it kicked in the transformation was amazing. 3 months later I'm far more stable and working fulltime. Some back pain has returned with occasional sciatica."
"I sustained a severe injury in the Army on an Airborne operation. I broke 5 vertebrae in my back and broke my right heel off and into multiple pieces. Needless to say I have severe pain daily. Gabapentin stopped working along with other nervous system treatments such as acupuncture and alpha stems. Finally got into a pain clinic after waiting for a long time and they gave me Lyrica. First night I took it my foot was on fire and I felt as tho I had ants crawling all over me and biting me. Opiates work great but due to all the idiots abusing them it screws the rest of us that it helps. In conclusion, I will NEVER take Lyrica again"
Lyrica (pregabalin) "I have taken 3 x 75mg, and amazed at how well Lyrica worked for me after only taking 1 pill. I feel like I can get comfortable for the first time in years. I have high hopes that this doesn't wear off and I can continue to feel so good. I feel like a miracle, really has helped my all over body pain that I live with for years."
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.
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"I was prescribed 25mg of this for nerve pain I had been struggling with for 8 weeks. I did all my research and looked at side effects/symptom stories. I was quite apprehensive about taking this but couldn't suffer my backpain/nervepain/sciatica any longer. I took 50mg dose of this at night and in the morning the pain was gone. Took one more dose of 50mg the next night. The pain has healed. I had no side effects as read from others. I will not hesitate to use this drug again if needed. Don't take into mind all the stories and symptoms you read. It is worth a try and I am glad I went ahead and used it."