Lyrica and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Ann...
• March 9, 2021

For Neuropathic Pain "Taking Lyrica for almost 2 weeks now at 50mg 3x per day and have had no change in how much pain I’m in. Doctor prescribed this without even looking at me. The side effects are so intense, and there are too many drug interactions that come along with it. I have had the worst brain fog, I forget the most simple words, and you lose the ability to speak properly. Always drowsy and dizzy, feeling of being drunk or high. More pain is also a side effect I seem to have. Definitely would not recommend this drug to anyone."

• Jsb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2025

For Fibromyalgia "Lyrica is wonderful for managing my fibromyalgia symptoms. Before taking this medication, I suffered from chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. It helps me with all three! I had previously tried Cymbalta, which tore up my stomach, and gabapentin, which made me drowsy. Lyrica is hands down the best. Don't hesitate to try this medication if you are considering it. It has given me my life back as I can get out of bed now and accomplish more than ever."

• Fat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2014

For Fibromyalgia "Taking Lyrica relieves my fibromyalgia symptoms literally in days, and the pain relief from that is amazing. Unfortunately, I can't sleep. I get red, sore eyes, water retention, constipation, irritated bladder, passing water much more frequently. Pelvic pain, sore gums, cramps, excess wind, bloated stomach, runny nose. These side effects occur as quickly as the pain from fibromyalgia goes."

• Bac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2014

For Neuropathic Pain "I started taking this medication about a week ago. AMAZING! My doctor prescribed it for the pain shooting down my arm and hand from cervical and thoracic issues. I was writhing in pain at night, so much so I could barely walk. After just one dose, a total difference. I take just 75mg before bed. I do notice a feeling of drowsiness upon waking, but it is usually gone a couple of hours later, unless I take Tylenol or Motrin. One of the side effects I have had is swollen eyes and crusted eyes. I am very tired and need a nap. I find the pill seems to work for about 20 hours for nerve pain, and then it starts coming back."

• Im ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2013

For Neuropathic Pain "I have been on Lyrica for about three weeks, and I feel that my experience may help. I have chronic nerve damage in my arm and sympathetic nerve damage. If you are about to begin the Lyrica ride, expect the following: you will be living in a cloud. I noticed a few reviews explained it as that, and I feel they hit the nail on the head. You literally feel drunk."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2013

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "I had shingles for two and a half weeks, then experienced severe nerve pain after the sores began to heal. My doctor originally prescribed Vicodin, then switched me to Lyrica in anticipation of my return to work. Lyrica was very effective at reducing the severity of the pain, but it caused me to be very drowsy. I slept for 14 hours a night, and had difficulty concentrating during the day. I would also have trouble remembering things I had done while taking Lyrica. I had to discontinue using it."

• Zim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "Lyrica is a game changer for me. I have been in pain for over 10 years and had back surgery to remove a disk with a fusion. This was okay for accommodating the injury, however, I was left with nerve damage from degeneration that affects my lower back, legs, and hips. Now, I no longer find myself looking for another Percocet. Some drowsiness is a tolerable side effect, especially since I haven't had a full night of restful sleep in years."

• lou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2019

For Neuropathic Pain "Recently commenced on Lyrica 25 mg am/50 mg pm. - It is for nerve pain. Although I am experiencing side effects, drowsiness, slight dizziness, vomiting, to name a few, my pain has reduced significantly so far."

• DDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2019

For Neuropathic Pain "Will never use again. Felt like I was drugged. Couldn't keep eyes open. Blurry vision. Knocked me out and slept from 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Glad I didn't have to go to work! Woke up still groggy and with a major headache! How are people supposed to function on this?"

• vot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2024

For Neuropathic Pain "I was prescribed Lyrica for peripheral neuropathy. It took my pain from a chronic 6/7 every day to a 2. I haven't experienced any negative side effects and was only drowsy for the first few days of taking the medicine. I am prescribed 100 mg twice a day. The burning, pins and needles, and electric shocks or pricks have nearly stopped. I can still tell where my nerve damage begins and ends, but the pain for the areas affected has decreased very significantly."

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2011

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This medicine works fast and hard for anxiety. It will stop anxiety dead in its tracks. I highly recommend Lyrica for anxiety. The only side effect has been some sleepiness, but I'll take it considering the anxiety relief being provided by Lyrica."

• Hea...
• October 24, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "Dizziness, sleepiness while driving, I got used to it. It did wonders at first for my pain. I found it was effective, but I had to keep upping the dose. I struggled with keeping a job, I had balance issues and low potassium levels. I ended up in the hospital twice for two months. I was euphoric and also had angry outbursts, it was a strange combination. There were blisters on my chin, I was unbalanced and had swelling in my ankles. I had to stop it once I struggled with breathing. I also had jerkiness at night when sleeping, and it affected my eyesight dramatically-floaters and blurry vision followed by vertigo."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2013

For Neuropathic Pain "Been taking since September. I take 50ml x3 at night although prescription says 3 a day. Sleep like a baby, no pain still, and wake up refreshed. At first, it might make you feel a little drunk in the morning, just silly, nothing bad. Still working and a lifesaver! I needed to update on the free prescription, it's Pfizer's website and go to the patient prescription program. Fill out the info along with required things, mail it, in 2 weeks you get a letter if accepted, then prescription comes by FedEx! You have to call close to running out each month so that Pfizer can FedEx your refill! Got mine paid for a year! Otherwise, it's $400 for 90 pills. I get 50ml free from Pfizer, a 90-day supply! Thank you, Pfizer!"

• lau...
• August 24, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I will start off by saying it did cause weight gain. My clothes fit the same, but the number on the scale went up about 7-10 pounds depending on the day. I cannot say this is solely because of the drug, I think I can safely say that this is because my pain has improved so drastically that I have an appetite again. I can keep the weight off if I really want to, but I am not overweight, and I am content with my appetite finally being back after years of struggles that I don't think it's a problem. Regardless, I have been on Lyrica for almost a year now. It has drastically improved my nerve pain, joint stiffness, and swelling (along with a gallon of water a day), appetite, energy, and sleep. I am not pain-free, but no fibromyalgia patient truly ever is pain-free, my pain has gone from an average of 8-9 down to a 4-5 on my good days. My flare-ups are far less frequent, and I only experience them once every two or so months, which is a huge improvement over every other week. The length of the flare-ups is also shortened from 3-5 days down to 2 days maximum. At the beginning of taking the medicine, I was slightly drowsy, but nothing dangerous. I only take it once a day, and I am trying to keep it that way to avoid moving up to 2 doses a day. Lyrica is my miracle drug and has definitely given me my life back. My biggest complaint is the cost and insurance, but it could be worse. It costs me $2 a day to feel normal again."

• nee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2014

For Neuropathic Pain "After spinal surgery, I was having shocking life pain and tingling in my hands and feet all the time. After about a month on Lyrica, that pain had calmed down, and I was sleeping much better. I do feel somewhat sleepy when I take it, but nothing too out of control. I hope I can cut it out in a few months as I hate to be on any medication very long."

• Rab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2012

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking Lyrica (pregabalin) now for only three days, but I felt the effects immediately upon starting, and not a week later like is assumed. I am trying it for GAD (general anxiety disorder) after trying antidepressants; I tried SSRIs like Paxil and Lexapro and these were horrible failures. The SSRIs made me suicidal, BUT Lyrica seems to really be doing the trick! The weight of anxiety is totally gone, and I feel somehow stronger and more self-confident, although the feeling is a little manic at times and irregular, like feeling quite drowsy, then quite manic, in a short period of time. But I am assuming that this might stabilize after a few more days. So far, I feel like a new person!"

• lit...
• August 19, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I've been on Lyrica for a month now. 150 mg 2x a day. It works wonders for the awful muscle spasms and fibromyalgia pain, but I do have side effects. I have to do everything from chores to running errands before I take it. Once I take it, I become unbalanced, forget words, and become extremely tired. I sleep a lot and very heavily and usually can't remember the previous day. I definitely cannot function after I take it. I don't care for the side effects, but so far it has been the only thing that has worked for me. I tried Cymbalta, Neurontin, Zanaflex, Flexeril, lots of things. To me, it's worth taking the Lyrica as those terrible rib and back spasms keep at bay, and after two years of dealing with those, I don't ever want to again. By the way, it does kill my appetite."

• Juw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia. After taking the first dose, my hands and feet swelled up, and I couldn't bend my fingers. If I tried, the pain was intense. Then I started to stagger. I wobbled when I tried to stand still. My mind fogged up. I felt drunk and hungry. I got a sandwich, and it slipped off of my plate to the floor, and I picked it up and continued to eat, at least a couple of times. Everything I ate that night tasted so good. I was so sleepy. When I got up in the morning, there were things in places that should never have been. (i.e., TV remote in the bathroom, food on the floor near my bed, and other things misplaced.) I felt like I had a hangover. NEVER AGAIN. I had the same experience with gabapentin. Just say no!"

• DBT...
• August 18, 2009

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I started using Lyrica six months after it was put on the market, and I think it is a miracle drug for those of us who could not sleep or relax in any way due to severe neuropathy. The only side effect I experienced was sleepiness, which disappeared after about a week. This is a wonderful, wonderful thing for diabetics with nerve pain. Thank you to the makers!"

• Mon...
• December 31, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I wanted to share my experience in combining Lyrica and Neurontin for neuropathy symptoms; I've had fibromyalgia for 25 years. Neurontin was effective, but only at 1800 mg/day, which left me drowsy (fell asleep anytime I wasn't moving). My MD switched me to Lyrica (75 mg), but when I got to 3 per day, I rapidly gained weight - 10 lbs in 2 weeks! As a med student, I knew the two meds worked in a similar way and were metabolized similarly. I decreased the Lyrica to 1 per day, which stopped the weight gain but didn't control the nerve pain, so I added back in one 300 mg Neurontin per day (both at bedtime, to minimize drowsiness) - still not enough pain control. I added another Neurontin, and that was optimal for me. I take it all at bedtime."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I started taking this at 150 mg twice a day with some relief of pain, no side effects. I've recently increased to 225 mg twice a day, which is the maximum dosage. I'm experiencing vertigo, sleepiness, and weight gain, but virtually no pain. My doctor feels the results outweigh the side effects, and I agree."

• Anonymous
• February 26, 2011

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking Lyrica after seeing an orthopedic surgeon for widespread pain and tendinitis. After taking 50 mg a day, I had no difference, then up to 75 mg a day, I still had pain in my wrists (most likely because I work on a computer). But MIRACULOUSLY, I noticed that along with 'some' pain, my social anxiety is all but GONE! It's not even the reason I started taking it! As for my wrist pain, we've bumped up the mg to 175 per day, and it's only been two days. I'm very groggy in the morning. I didn't get that on the 75 mg, but I am confident it will subside. I feel like a new person because the easing of the social anxiety was a total surprise! I would recommend this medicine to ANYONE with pain/social anxiety."

• LMo...
• September 1, 2015

For Neuropathic Pain "I was prescribed Lyrica for a pinched nerve in my elbow after a dislocation. The pain made physical therapy intolerable. With just one dose of 75 mg of Lyrica, I could bend my elbow without wincing. Absolutely marvelous. Unfortunately, there were 2 side effects that made me stop taking it. The first one was that I fell asleep almost immediately after taking it for about 2 hours, and my brain felt very foggy after I woke up. The second issue was a slight tightness in the chest and feeling a little out of breath. Not severe, but enough to let me know that I couldn't take it again. Made me sad because it really worked."

• pit...
• April 10, 2008

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on 300 mg of Lyrica a day for a double herniation in my back. The side effects I experienced were dizziness, anxiety, and sleeplessness. However, I did not gain weight. Maybe that is because I had read that you could gain weight, and I changed my diet so that I would not. In fact, I lost 25 lbs. while on it. I read that I am in the minority with this. I can say, for the most part, Lyrica helped, but I had to take Advil with it. Overall, it helped."

• Wee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 2, 2017

For Neuropathic Pain "I started taking Lyrica for trigger spots (burning, painful hot spots throughout my back) plus lower back pain. I began taking 150 mg 2x a day. It was wonderful, no more daily nagging pain. However, the side effects started to outweigh the pain relief. I had to start taking water pills because of the water retention, my memory and cognitive thinking were really affected. On three separate occasions, I was sent home from work because I was so drowsy I kept falling asleep. I was staggering, slurring my speech. My supervisor thought I had been drinking. It was very embarrassing. If I did not have all these side effects, I would have stayed on these meds, but it was getting out of control-my weight has skyrocketed also. I'm weaning off. Pain is back."