Pregabalin and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

Pregabalin 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!"

• Her...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2015

For Pain "I am 36, have a bad case of a herniated disc that hits me in the back. Lyrica has helped a lot with pain and overcoming my hernia's crisis twice, at 150-300 mg daily. This is not an example of chronic use, although I might be such one case in the future if the problem persists. In lower doses, it seems to take more time (days) to take effect, in higher doses, the side effects are more pronounced. My side effects were: slight sedation, euphoria, strange body coordination, all in all: the psychoactivity. One can have an accident on these, so caution should be exercised and doctors' instructions followed strictly. Using cars or other potentially dangerous machines should probably be avoided too."

• lit...
• August 19, 2015

Pregabalin 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."

• Uli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on pregabalin, first with a low dosage for neuropathic pain (due to surgeries of leg and foot), and it didn't work well. After 2 weeks, the dosage was increased to 150mg tablets twice a day, one in the morning and once at bedtime. It has worked moderately well for pain, but it's been very good for my mood and sleep. I have recovered myself, and I think I'll be taking pregabalin for longer than expected because I have recovered my sleep and my mood. I think I'm becoming myself again after almost 3 years dealing with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, surgeries, and so on. No significant side effects except for a little drowsiness and feeling sleepy the first days. Pregabalin works! It's good."

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

Pregabalin 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!"

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

Pregabalin 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."

• DBT...
• August 18, 2009

Pregabalin 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!"

• Mov...
• February 4, 2022

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I've had RLS for 22 years. Last year, I finally talked to my doctor, and she put me on Requip. It did NOTHING but make me sleepy the next day. So we tried Lyrica, and it is a game changer. I'm on 300 mg a day, and it works fantastic. No RLS, and I can sleep finally. BUT I am so groggy during the day. I wish I could find a doctor who believed in a low-dose opiate (not tramadol because I'm an epileptic), but until I do, Lyrica will remain my go-to for this awful condition!"

• Mon...
• December 31, 2016

Pregabalin 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."

• ddo...
• September 27, 2009

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have taken tranquilizers for years to help with the anxiety I get from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. They have only helped moderately and made me drowsy (not good for driving). My doctor suggested that I try Lyrica. It helped me in ways that I couldn't even hope for. It let me be able to say that I don't have ANY anxiety. That is HUGE!"

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

Pregabalin 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."

• hap...
• January 18, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I had been experiencing major depressive disorder, and I have an anxiety disorder. I have tried every antidepressant on earth and had suicidal ideation with each one, even after one pill! I have some nerve pain, so I tried gabapentin but didn't really get any relief from it, so I asked my doctor for some Lyrica. The next day, I felt the depression lift, and the anxiety came to a manageable level where I felt I could function well and go out in public. I recently started vaping nicotine, and the anxiety is back. I am going to quit and continue to take the Lyrica. When I feel really anxious, I take 10 mg of Valium with it, and I am in heavenly bliss. No pain, no worries, just normal, albeit a bit sedated, but still very functional."

• Anonymous
• February 26, 2011

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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."

• Phi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2015

For Pain "This worked wonders for me, but I have an allergy to it. Was warned it would make me drowsy, but made me have crazy anxiety and tight chest. Problem was it completely eliminated my sciatic and lower back pain. Couldn't cope with side effects on 75 mg, so dropped to 25 mg, still too harsh side effects. Moved on to Gabapentin in the last 48 hours, which has seen back pain return but no sciatic pain or tightness. I am allergic/have a bad intolerance to caffeine, and it was exactly the same reaction. Sadly, due to side effects, this tablet didn't work out for me."

• Adr...
• February 16, 2020

For Pain "On this for chronic regional pain syndrome and get side effects of constant headache, nausea, upset stomach, rash, itching, sleeplessness, dizzy within an hour of taking, blurry vision, and light sensitivity."

• Ivo...
• December 8, 2015

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I take Lyrica primarily for non-diabetic polyneuropathy. The bottoms of my feet felt like they were on fire before. I could not walk. Now, though painful, I take long daily walks. I can only tolerate the lowest dose three times daily, maybe four times if the doctor allowed it. An increased dose made me too drowsy. I find it helpful for fibromyalgia too, but I could only choose one category. I still have too much pain."

• pau...
• May 27, 2015

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I have taken Lyrica since 2007 and managed to lower the dosage to 100 mg. It's what allows me to live a normal life. I associate the mood changes and somnolence with the amount of pain I feel more than with the drug itself. Fortunately, I can get it cheaper than in the beginning. I hope the generic comes soon!"

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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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."

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

Pregabalin 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."

• Let...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 16, 2018

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I'm British and was prescribed pregabalin by my GP 12 months ago for GAD and social anxiety. It is the only drug I have found that actually works for me. It doesn't get rid of the anxiety completely, I still have bad days, but I've not been off work with anxiety in 12 months. There are downsides: drowsiness, inability to concentrate/focus, and being very low on energy/exhausted, wanting to fall asleep all the time."

• Ali...
• March 27, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have therapy through the mental health team, and I have been suffering anxiety along with depression, and my therapist thinks I am also showing signs of borderline personality disorder, yet I've not had a diagnosis yet. Pregabalin were prescribed 3 times daily by the mental health team doctor, along with 3 times Prozac daily, and I am just having Pregabalin for 14 days. They have slowly chilled me out a little, and this is day 3 of them. I did feel spaced out and drowsy at first, which the doctor said would probably happen, but I am slowly getting used to them."