Lyrica and Brain Fog: What Users Say (Page 2)

• jus...
• September 11, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I am 51 years old and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about a month ago. My doctor prescribed Lyrica. My mother also had fibromyalgia and was taking Lyrica. She suffered a lot from the sleepy/out of it side effect and didn't like that at all. It did ease some of her pain, but she was not willing to increase the dosage. I started taking Lyrica when diagnosed, and within just a day or two, I felt incredible! I didn't hurt when I woke up in the morning. I could move and do regular activities around the house without the horrible pain I had before. I did have some of the loopy/confusion/unable to focus for a short time, but that went away. I'm so thankful for Lyrica. I can live and not just exist."

• jus...
• September 11, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I am 51 years old and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about a month ago. My doctor prescribed Lyrica. My mother also had fibromyalgia and was taking Lyrica. She suffered a lot from the sleepy/out of it side effect and didn't like that at all. It did ease some of her pain, but she was not willing to increase the dosage. I started taking Lyrica when diagnosed, and within just a day or two, I felt incredible! I didn't hurt when I woke up in the morning. I could move and do regular activities around the house without the horrible pain I had before. I did have some of the loopy/confusion/unable to focus for a short time, but that went away. I'm so thankful for Lyrica. I can live and not just exist."

• Lif...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "Got my life back. I used to feel like I was getting stabbed all over and took ages to get up and walk. Due to this medication, I've been able to move and exercise and gradually build up my strength again. The downside is brain fog, but I had that already, so hey ho. The first few weeks were bad, and I felt drunk, but glad I got through that and have been getting better gradually."

• Gsu...
• February 15, 2017

For Neuralgia "I didn't experience any side effects at 50 mg 2x per day. After my knee replacement surgery, I started taking 100 mg 3x per day. Almost right away I noticed vision blurriness and mental fog. After about a month, I started noticing weight gain and swelling in my ankles, legs, feet, and my hands are puffy. I have been on it 7 weeks now and have already gained 10 pounds. The swelling in my feet is nearly intolerable."

• kat...
• August 25, 2009

For Neuralgia "Makes me feel very sleepy and spaced out, but really helps with the pain. Also have an increase in appetite. Had total knee replacement three months ago and have a lot of postoperative nerve pain that tramadol didn't touch. After many sleepless nights, it has been a Godsend and have had my first night of more than three hours' sleep since I had the operation."

• bea...
• September 14, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I have had fibromyalgia for 4 years now, and recently my doctor put me on Lyrica and Cymbalta. The Lyrica is a true lifesaver, it really helps with the pain. But it has a lot of side effects. Cons - feeling like a zombie, shakes, sick to my stomach, itching, blurry eyes, drowsiness. Pros - my pain is almost all gone, happy mood, and I can move freely with barely any pain. And I feel like I'm on cloud nine and can't wait to go to sleep. Overall, Lyrica has really helped me a lot. I have tried the generic gabapentin and Savella. They do not work! I'm so happy that I found this website for all the people who have aches and pains as well as I. Thank you."

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 5, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "I have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. In the beginning, I thought Lyrica was amazing. My pain was gone, and I was moving. I was happy. Halfway through the second month, I started noticing I was dealing with fibro fog much more than before. It was worse than before and continued getting progressively worse. I couldn't put words together, I sometimes forgot where I was driving to and why I was going. At the time, I was 42 years old. That should not be happening. Along with that, some of the pain was back and getting worse. I couldn't keep my eyes open. In the first three months of taking Lyrica, I gained almost 40 pounds, which made the pain worse. I stayed in contact with my doctor, and finally, she took me off of Lyrica. The severe fibro fog calmed, and any fog experience after coming off was minor. The weight started going down, and I started feeling like me again. I will never take Lyrica again. It was a horrible experience. Never again."

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2010

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Lyrica made me a zombie. I could just sit and flip channels on the TV or stare off into space. If it helped the neuropathy, I did not notice. Stopped taking it after one week, and the doctor put me back on Neurontin. Neurontin does not help so much with the pain in my feet and legs, but at least I can function."

• Pdl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2020

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I had taken Lyrica for about a month and then caught the flu - not Covid-19 - my neurologist prescribed an antibiotic. One morning, two days later, I took a second dose of Lyrica a few hours after the first because my leg was hurting and had a bad reaction. I blacked out, but was mumbling, seemingly had a seizure, was responsive, but didn’t remember anything. My husband took me to the ER. I woke up at 7:00 pm. I thought I was making sense talking, but my husband said I wasn’t. There for two weeks. An occupational therapist tested me daily - took that long for me to totally make sense, walk better, etc. I still had trouble thinking of some words for about two months. Once in a while, I still have trouble with words now after six months. I advise not using Lyrica if there is anything else you can take."

• Anonymous
• January 15, 2011

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "Got shingles on my scalp and face, was treated with Valtrex, Neurontin, and pain medicine. I have repeatedly had bouts of shingles for the last 15 months, resulting in PHN. I now take Lyrica, 1 at 8 am, 1 at 3 pm, and 3 at bedtime. This dose was gradually increased over time. Although very fatigued, I am 50% better and am able to function better. The initial drowsiness subsided after a couple of months. Do still have a bit of brain fog, not sure if it's the Lyrica or lack of sleep."

• Anonymous
• July 1, 2009

For Pain "I have been having pain for 5 months now after a bad dental experience. I thought it was my teeth that were causing all of my pain. I felt hopeless with no other options left. No dentists knew what to do. I went to my doctor and said I possibly have nerve damage from the numbing shot (I have permanent numbness too). This medicine has taken away my tingling feeling from the numbing (although it's still numb, it's not annoying). The shooting pain through my jaw is gone, and my throbbing is gone too. WONDERFUL. I do feel a little dizzy and loopy, but I'm so happy."

• CRP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "Was given Lyrica for nerve pain of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), took it for 2 weeks and no relief. Started to stumble, brain fog, swelling in feet so bad I can't walk. Now I can't sleep because pain is worse. Bad drug, try something else!"

• big...
• February 29, 2008

"I was diagnosed with lupus 3 yrs. ago. Several months ago, during one of my doctor's visits, I discussed feeling more pain. He prescribed Lyrica. I was taking 3x daily, changed to twice daily. (I was experiencing 'foggy' thinking with 3x daily). I have been VERY pleased with the results I feel."

• Mol...
• January 20, 2022

For Neuropathic Pain "I took Lyrica for nerve pain in my legs. The pain was so bad I had no choice. This is the worst medication I've ever taken, and I couldn't wait to get off of it. I was lucky to find a chiropractor to help me with my pain, and after being on the medication for 4 months, I was ready to come off of it. While the medication helped with my pain, it unfortunately made me feel like a zombie and gain 15 pounds. It made me clumsy, and I couldn't think right because of the brain fog. I had to taper off of the 225 mg that I was taking. After taking the last pill, I had extreme agitation, headaches, nausea, diarrhea really bad, and this lasted 6 days. I will never take this awful medication again."

• Win...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2021

For Neuropathic Pain "I was put on 50 mg 3x daily for CRPS caused after ACL surgery. I was fully able to do PT but still had nerve pain. My doctor increased slowly to 100 mg 3x a day. I noticed within 3 months I gained 30 pounds. My period stopped altogether. I had horrible brain fog. Very bad dry mouth. Headache. I noticed after two weeks of taking the 100 mg 3x daily that I started swelling in my legs and hands. My feet and hands became very painful and swollen. And my nerve pain seemed to get way worse. My ACL knee started to swell and become very stiff and hurt. I stopped taking this medicine literally 3 days ago and started taking CBD (I thought this stuff was a joke), but it has helped my intense electrical nerve pain through my whole body. And has helped the pain in my hands and feet. Waiting to see if the swelling and other issues go away once it’s completely out of my system. This medication had horrible side effects on my body, just hoping I can reverse it!!"

• jks...
• September 25, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I've been on Lyrica almost 3 years. It did give me relief from the aches of my fibromyalgia, and I haven't felt like I was in a fog since taking it. It didn't help with my lower back pain, which started to really annoy me in August 2008. The doctor put me on Vicodin 10/325, that helped, but I started Pristiq about 3 weeks ago, which helped this pain. I also still feel the depression, mainly lack of motivation and concentration problems (not ADD). I went off the Lyrica for a while but have since gone back on it. I feel it helps me while I'm on it to stay on it as regular as possible. No weight gain."