Lyrica and Memory Loss: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Con...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 28, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "Took 100 mg Lyrica over 10 years for fibromyalgia. Definitely helped with pain in the beginning, but side effects were not worth it in the end. Gained 50+ lbs from when I began meds and when I stopped. Severe swelling of feet, hands, brain fog, memory loss, and speech/language flow change. After being off Lyrica for 1+ year, I have a hard time remembering something I was about to say 2 seconds ago. I forget simple words like coffee, bicycle, elevator, and can't think of them till I describe what I am thinking of to my kids, and they look at me like I have 10 heads when they figure out what I am trying to say. After taking meds for 10+ years, once I stopped, the immediate difference in my brain fog was night and day. Although I can't prove it, I know my memory and language capabilities will never be the same, but I never realized how much brain fog the drug was causing until I stopped taking it. Please listen and just manage the pain, because memory and language issues are not something you can recover."

• fog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "Currently, I have been taking 75 mg twice a day of Lyrica. Not only do I have fibromyalgia, but I also have severe osteoarthritis in my spine and multiple bulged discs, cervical and lumbar. I had been treated in the past with gabapentin and experienced too many side effects, and it wasn't working, so my doctor started me on the Lyrica. I have no insurance, so I was able to get it through the Pfizer assistance program. Since I have been on it, there has not been any significant pain relief, I have gained 32 pounds in 4 months, and my memory has been terrible. I have struggled with concentration, and I will be talking with my doctor about getting off of this medication. There has to be a better option out there for me. It may work for some people, but in my case, I have not seen much benefit from it."

• Lou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "Lyrica started to ease my pain the very first night I started it. I saw about a 20% easing of fibro pain for the duration of the first night and day 2. I woke up on day 3 - no relief. Lyrica just completely stopped working by day 3, and I was back to agony. I continued on my dose of 75 mg each night for over 3 weeks, I then upped the dose to one 75 mg in the morning and two 75 mg at night. I've been on this higher dose now for a few weeks and still absolutely no relief. I must say that I've experienced little side effects - some memory loss and tiredness. No weight gain at all. If Lyrica had kept working, I would have been really happy, but unfortunately, it just stopped working for me! I'd recommend at least trying it for anyone that's considering."

• 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."

• 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."

• tex...
• July 15, 2008

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Lyrica stops the pain in the ball of my feet. It's wonderful to be able to walk without the pain. I am diabetic and take insulin. I too have had a weight gain of 35 lbs over the past 6 months. I seem to suffer from a bit more memory loss than before, and I fatigue easily. I have caught myself dozing off in front of the computer at work, so I force myself to get up and walk around a bit. All in all, a small price to pay for the relief of the pain in my feet."

• Pos...
• June 9, 2017

For Neuropathic Pain "My mum has been taking Lyrica for around three years. It has been a huge problem! Drugs.com has a page on Lyrica's side effects, yet it doesn't mention that it can cause a stroke. My mum has had three mini strokes. It has given her dementia, incontinence, she can't walk properly, etc. She has many of the side effects mentioned. The doctor is slowly taking her off Lyrica, and she is almost back to herself."

• Den...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "I started taking Lyrica 4 months ago. I am always anxious when taking a new medicine as I am also on Paxil, which is horrible if I do not have a dose within 24 hours. Within an hour, I felt 'weird,' like I do if I miss a dose of Paxil. That feeling subsided throughout the day. Over the next few days, I did feel quite vague and forgetful (like I couldn't remember my bank account number, which I use daily). Again, I persisted, taking 75 mg twice a day, on waking and then at 2 pm. I noticed an increase in energy and a decrease in pain."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on Lyrica for the past 8 months. I have fibromyalgia, and pain was unbearable. It was amazing at first, as I could finally sleep. Over the few months, however, I have had increased swelling in my joints and gained 15 lbs with no change in eating habits. I started feeling confused with memory loss, then, two weeks ago, I started feeling suicidal. I did not ever suffer from depression but could not get the thought of just taking a bottle of pills. Due to my experience of working with mental health, I knew something was not right, so I am now working at reducing Lyrica and going off of it. I think it was amazing for the pain but not worth the risk with the change in my mental state."

• mar...
• August 19, 2009

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I suffered with nerve damage at the back of my neck. Lyrica caused me severe memory loss, confusion, and depression. It stopped my nerve problem, but my good memory has not returned. I also suffer from headaches, which I never had before."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "Lyrica has helped reduce my nerve pain so much. I have a pinched nerve in my lower back (L5) that caused me so much sciatic pain in my left leg. It was difficult to sit/drive, and I have a sit-down job. I first took gabapentin 600 mg 3 times a day with no relief at all. I have been taking 50 mg of Lyrica 2 times a day for about a month now, and the pain has been greatly reduced. I noticed an improvement after 1-2 weeks. It has to build up in your system. The only downside that I've noticed so far, other than the price, is drowsiness and forgetfulness. After insurance, I have to pay $108/month. To me, it's worth the reduction of pain. I hope they come up with a generic version soon. I highly recommend you try it if nothing else helps."

• She...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 28, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "I've been on Lyrica for 12 years, and it still works great for me. I'm on 300 mg 2x a day. Side effects are craving sweets, sleepiness, can't find words sometimes, and short-term memory is off sometimes. My neuropathy in hands and feet/legs is so much better on this drug. I almost don't believe the people who say it doesn't work, because it does very well. It helps with opiate withdrawal as well. Lyrica has a severe withdrawal, though. I've just been so pleased with the pain decrease from Lyrica."

• CEO...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 21, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "I began taking Lyrica in small doses and told my doctor it wasn't working. Dr. lowered the dose and the nerve pain was excruciating. I went back to my regular dose twice a day, however, I still had the pain in my feet. Once they increased the dose to three times a day, the pain in my feet completely went away. I gained weight, but since it stops the pain, I will take it gladly. As for the memory loss, I just give people I'm talking to the disclaimer, 'I'm medicated.'"

• gmb...
• July 23, 2009

For Pain "I have had a fusion of L4 and L5 in 2004, was doing fine until last year when I began to have pain in my low back and right leg, accompanied by numbness and tingling down the leg. I also managed to severely rupture a few discs in my neck while stretching, of all things. Was misdiagnosed by the surgeon, who only fixed one of the ruptures with a fusion of C7. Of course, this still left me with pain and numbness from my neck down both arms. About a month or so ago, I switched to a spine and pain management doctor, and he put me on Lyrica (75 mg 3x daily) and a Duragesic patch. These two drugs have worked wonders for my pain and quality of life. The only side effect is that my short-term memory is a little sketchy, and my mind doesn't want to shut down."

• B4n...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "I was trialing this drug for several months now, when my specialist proposed it would assist in getting me off of my current pain medication. After using the drug for 3 months, I had found that it gave me a heightened sense of pain, tinnitus, no menstruation, and worse of all, I had developed dementia and could not easily recall things. Since finishing the drug, I now have a menstrual cycle again and less pain, and my cognitive function is returning."

• Pon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2016

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Going to have to decrease dosage (50 mg 2x daily) or quit Lyrica due to loss of memory & confusion & jerking. Once could top out any IQ tests, but my husband says I can't even find my 'behind' anymore. Taking it for neuropathy & came home from complete knee surgery with foot drop in the leg operated on. Now the other foot has dropped halfway, so I am all but an invalid. No more going outside for me to enjoy our horses on our farm. The dry mouth I got with Lyrica also frightens me as I'm afraid I will lose my teeth as others have. Lyrica also causes severe sleepiness. I guess it might have stopped the shooting pains in my feet at night?"

• JT7...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 14, 2022

For Neuropathic Pain "I’m writing this review to warn others about this drug. I’ve been on Lyrica for almost a year. I was prescribed it for nerve and spinal damage. Initially, it worked better than nothing for pain, but after a few weeks, I began experiencing debilitating side effects including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, word and memory loss. It became so bad that sometimes I would forget my age or birthdate! Processing basic information became difficult. I also started experiencing agitation, sweating, chills, intense nausea, heart palpitations, and anxiety attacks when I missed a dose by 12 hours. These would stop when I took a dose. That’s when I realized I was physically dependent on it. I’ve been working to titrate for the past few months to get off this poison, with horrible withdrawal effects. I would NEVER have touched this medication if I knew how addictive it was. From my experience, I think this medication is dangerous and needs to be studied better."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2017

For Neuropathic Pain "I'm a 41-year-old male, and I suffer from diabetic neuropathy in my feet. It's steadily gotten worse over the last 2 years and wasn't even diagnosed properly until 3 months ago. I've been taking Lyrica, started with 75 mg twice a day, which didn't do much of anything. I'm now taking 150 mg twice a day, it's somewhat effective but not quite there yet. I'm not sure if the dosage will have to be increased or if I'll have to try something else? I haven't had a lot of the side effects others have mentioned, except for memory loss. I've noticed that my short-term memory hasn't been the best of late, but other than that, not really many side effects for me."

• ach...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2021

For Neuropathic Pain "Took for one month and had dizziness and memory issues. Provider thought I should take more, I think this is a dangerous drug, and it definitely does not work for pain. Should not be on the market from my experience."

• Mat...
• March 6, 2010

For Neuralgia "After a head/neck/spine injury, I found the drug to be very helpful with the neuropathic pain in my arm, face, and various body parts. Weight gain is a minor issue. I don't suffer night terrors, but I feel as though I've been dragged through a hedge backwards upon awakening. I do NOT feel rested upon awakening. Cognitive issues due to the injury have been exaggerated after taking Lyrica."

• Tef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2017

For Neuropathic Pain "Taking Lyrica for spinal cord injury. Started with 75 mg daily. Seemed to stop the severe burning in my feet, but I have memory problems with blurred vision. The doctor has upped the meds to 150 mg 2X daily. Not sure how I'm going to react to that. I'll report back in a week or two if I have a brain left."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "I started on Lyrica 150 mg twice a day. I am 68 years old and could not tolerate the side effects. The medication did relieve the pain of fibromyalgia and helped me sleep at night. However, it gave me instant dementia. My short-term memory was gone. The doctor reduced the dosage to 75 mg two times a day. I could only take it at night because of drowsiness. It also caused blurred vision. Dementia continued, and I was forced to stop the medication. It works for the pain, but the side effects are bad."

• Pix...
• January 8, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "I saw a pain specialist who put me on Lyrica. He stated I definitely had chronic nerve pain/damage. Within a year, my specialist had me on 625 mg. I'm under 5 ft and weigh 50 kg. If I was late or missed taking them, chronic pain and excruciating pain in my head. I came off it and found out I was at high risk of seizures. It's taken me nearly a year to come down to a minimum, but it's affecting my brain function immensely. My hair is falling out, eyesight deteriorating, nausea constantly, and memory loss, concentration, speech, negative thoughts, dark thoughts, couldn't go out or socialize. Verbal outbursts, aggression. I became a vegetable."

• che...
• April 14, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "Like most others, I've tried everything possible for fibromyalgia over the past several years. I also have 3 herniated discs and chronic back pain. I tried Lyrica in the past, and it did not help. Two years later, I tried it again and, in fact, am still on 300 mg/day in combination with Flexeril 10 mg at night. It helped to take the edge off for about a month, then suddenly stopped working. As I am going on a vacation soon, I am not beginning to wean off yet as I will wait until we return. Perhaps increasing the dosage would help? We will see. So far, all I had was a month with a little less pain and am having a hard time maintaining my weight. My memory loss and grasping for words has also noticeably increased (and I am young)."

• JC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2016

For Neuropathic Pain "I have herpes zoster, and my Dr. prescribes Lyrica for the nerve endings. I took the capsules 1 day (2 days ago), and after I woke up the next morning, I was completely disoriented, nauseous, and vomiting, sleepy, drowsy, forgetful, having uncontrollable shakes in hands and fingers. I thought it would get better soon if I did not take it again. My husband took me to work, where I slept the whole time. I had a dry nose and mouth, couldn't eat or drink, muscle stiffness, drunk feeling, and walked abnormally. I stopped taking it and feel better today. Could have a shake for breakfast."