Pregabalin and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have nerve damage in my neck coupled with fibromyalgia, so in a lot of pain. I have had lots of different medications over the last year, but they only made me drowsy and inactive and not being able to sleep. After talking to my doctor, he suggested pregabalin and 25 mg twice a day. Boy, what a difference! After the first capsule, I slept better that night, and the next day I was out in my garden and garage pottering about. Sex takes a little longer, but the wife has not complained. After a week, it still is working well, and I will speak with the doctor as to whether I need to up to 25 mg three times a day to see what difference it will make pain-wise, as I get some breakthrough pain halfway between the two that I take 12 hours apart. Looking forward to life again now."

• Kka...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 17, 2018

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Doesn’t help at all. I’ve been taking it for over a year along with gabapentin. Various dosages. Makes me groggy and unable to actually think sometimes. I’d stop taking them, but don’t know what else to do. There really aren’t many options. All big pharma hype! Advertising all over doctors' offices."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2021

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I took a moderate dose for several months in 2016, and it worked wonderfully, with no side effects. I returned to the drug in 2021 at a lower dose than before, but it now makes me feel like I am drunk, running into walls, tripping over my own feet, feeling stoned. All other drugs I take have not changed, so it would not be a drug interaction. My doctor and I are unable to discover why my reaction should have changed, especially at a lower dose. We're working at getting me the correct dose."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2021

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I took a moderate dose for several months in 2016, and it worked wonderfully, with no side effects. I returned to the drug in 2021 at a lower dose than before, but it now makes me feel like I am drunk, running into walls, tripping over my own feet, feeling stoned. All other drugs I take have not changed, so it would not be a drug interaction. My doctor and I are unable to discover why my reaction should have changed, especially at a lower dose. We're working at getting me the correct dose."

• roa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 22, 2016

Pregabalin for Neuralgia "In April/May of 2011, my right foot kept falling asleep over a 3-day period, and I had a tingling sensation creep across my groin. After 3 days of my right foot falling asleep and the tingling sensation creeping across my waist, I was numb from the waist down for 2 weeks. Since then, my feet fell asleep and never woke up. I finally got on Lyrica, and it has helped some with the tingling sensations, but it has me feeling oh so stoned. Thankfully, I get my Lyrica through the county health department, and it doesn't cost me."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I am 37 with multiple illnesses, fibromyalgia, diabetes, arthritis, and schizophrenia being the top 4. My doctor put me on 300 mg of Lyrica 3 times a day. Initially, it stopped my severe symptoms of fibromyalgia. I began to have sleeplessness, which became 3 hours of sleep every other night. My legs from knee down began to tingle, then it felt like worms crawling in them. I had fuzzy vision, and then 60 voices came out in my head, very loud and clear. My doctor refused to stop Lyrica, I stopped taking it, and within a month, the side effects disappeared."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2021

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Nightmare med. Doesn’t work on pain. So many horrid side effects: suicidal, vivid nightmares each time you sleep, makes you very sleepy, sleep nearly 24/7, makes you feel awful, doesn’t help at all with pain, fast and huge weight gain, hair fell out in clumps, makes you angry and changes your personality negatively."

• Sai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 18, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "This medicine is good. I can sleep, it helps with my pain at night. Unfortunately, I am very sensitive to medicines, and with 150 mg, I feel a little bit high and dizzy, but 0 pain, so I take 100 mg at night because I like to feel more in control, but still, I can sleep and it helps with pain. Also, I notice it helps with my GAD; I feel calm and without irritability. I have peripheral neuropathy in my arms, and it helps as well with it. I don't like the fact that I need to take medicine, but it is what it is, and so far, it has been the only medicine that takes away the pain. I also take duloxetine 20 mg; not sure yet if it is worth it, and Ultracet when I need it because I don’t take pregabalin during the day because it makes me sleepy, and I can’t think clearly, and I need to work. I give it an 8 because of the dizziness and the grogginess sensation."

• Ehe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 13, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "What a lifesaver for me. I had severe night sweats, which I realized many years later (7 to be exact) were panic attacks. I was so sleep-deprived and woke feeling uptight and short-tempered. I tried a few drugs that did not really help, but 1 year ago, I asked my doc to try, and he let me. A few weeks later, my attacks became less frequent, and I felt much more rested in the morning. The other major difference was my irritable bowel problems disappeared after many years of cramps and running to the loo. I also did not get up to go to the loo in the night so often. I believe it all was due to the nerve connection. A year on, and I am much better. I still have some attacks at night, but I recognize some of my triggers. I thought after better sleep everything would be better, but I still feel depressed. I am now considering coming off just to see if this is one of the side effects, as I do feel dopey and a bit slower. My sex life is pretty nonexistent, and I am having difficulty having an orgasm."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2022

For Fibromyalgia "This med was awful for me. I took it at night, and the next day I felt the weirdest, most groggy, fatigued, and honestly intoxicated I've ever felt. It was distressing. I would much rather be in pain than feel that out of sorts. I wish it worked, because my pain is constant and debilitating, but it's better than whatever this med did to me."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2019

For Spondylolisthesis "My doctor prescribed me pregabalin to treat my sciatica, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, and chronic back and knee pain. It did nothing for my severe pain and gave me terrible side effects just like gabapentin and other similar medicines, including sleepiness, weird overall feeling, anxiety, dystonia, and similar reactions. It is used off-label to treat back conditions and pain with no efficient evidence that it works any better for most painful back conditions compared to placebo in clinical trials. Many people get addicted to pregabalin and gabapentin, yet they have replaced way more effective opiate medications for pain and have way more dangerous side effects. That is just nuts!!"

• Anonymous
• August 19, 2009

Pregabalin for Pain "I really didn't notice much difference after 6 months on Lyrica - still had minor headaches, but apparently, swelling went down (MRI). I did notice the sleepiness at first, followed by insomnia and 30 lbs weight gain in that 6 months and swollen fingers and belly area."

• Eth...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This gave me incredibly bad nightmares. Not read other reviews with this problem, but main reason I'm coming off it. Does help slightly with anxiety, but feel a bit too relaxed, not good for daytime and work. Does 150 mg taken at night also cause dizziness, and my eyes can't focus. Extremely groggy in the morning, not great for me."

• Ran...
• October 8, 2020

For Neuropathic Pain "I am a multiple myeloma patient, having been on Velcade and dexamethasone for 5 years. Recently, I began experiencing peripheral neuropathy in both feet and toes as a result of the Velcade. I am now on pregabalin (Lyrica). I was prescribed 50 mg twice a day, but after a week, I was getting frustrated with the side effects, so I cut back to 50 mg just at night. It really puts me to sleep, but I wake up groggy in the morning. That lasts until mid-afternoon. But it deals very effectively with my nerve pain. But then I am in pain until my next nightly dose. I'm going to request a reduction in my dosage to 25 mg twice a day and see if that works for me to keep the relief level constant. I am 82 years old. I figure I can put up with the side effects for a few more years and hope I don't have to endure withdrawal, if the need arises."

• Mel...
• March 29, 2022

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "I have been on pregabalin for 3 weeks now. I started with 75 mg taken at night, then 75 mg am and pm, and am now at 150 mg am and pm. When I first started on the low dose, I crashed. I went from a very active person to sleeping 24/7. I gave up after 2 days as I could not stand that side effect. However, faced with little options as I was not able to deal with the side effects of the antidepressant, and in Canada at least, it is very difficult to receive pain medications for very long, I decided to give pregabalin another try. I must admit I was concerned about the side effect of weight gain, but the pain was so bad I decided that was worse than that side effect. So after about a week, maybe less, I was surprised to find that my body was able to get used to the med and I no longer feel the exhaustion or constant groggy feeling experienced at first. It really works for the pain. I am grateful for that. So far, no weight gain. However, I am early in on this med. But so far so good!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2018

For Small Fiber Neuropathy "Lyrica was great at putting 50 pounds on me within 3 months and making me feel drunk, but it didn't touch the pain caused by small fiber neuropathy. I just felt drunk, stupid, and fat and still had debilitating aches in my feet and hands. Then it took me a year to shake off those pounds. Thanks, Lyrica! Not."

• BBP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2024

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "I had shingles on my left side of the trunk. After a lot of pain, my doctor prescribed pregabalin. It reduced the pain by a lot, not completely. Side effects were sleepiness and constipation. I had been taking it for about 3 weeks. I decided to skip a couple of doses, but the pain returned immediately. I started the pregabalin again, and the pain subsided a lot. I haven't had fog brain like other reviewers. I hope I can get off this medicine in a couple of weeks."

• fee...
• January 7, 2017

For Neuropathic Pain "It does work for nerve pain, but the side effects were horrible. Weight gain, blurred vision, shaking, falling asleep at the dinner table, anger, feeling of not caring about anything, feeling like a zombie. Getting off Lyrica is worse. Have to get off a little bit at a time. I am now down to 75 mg twice a day. I feel like a new person. I am back to normal, however, pain has increased. At this point, I would rather put up with the pain than the side effects. I know my wife is glad I am back."

• SKA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "First two to three doses of 50 mg per dose were OK - a bit sedating (not sleepy, more dissociated), calming, and a somewhat euphoric effect. Subsequent doses, after the first day: depressed mood, lethargic, nausea, and a lot of gas/bloating. I could also notice some typical withdrawal symptoms between doses (I took one dose in the morning and one at night). This med is useless for GAD. Go for Lexapro and take diazepam for short periods when things get out of hand. Don't take this GABA analog rubbish."

• Jja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2023

For Pain "Makes me sleepy, woozy, unbalanced, groggy. Useless for pain."

• Anonymous
• September 8, 2012

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Extremely drowsy, no difference in pain."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2009

Pregabalin for Postherpetic Neuralgia "I have not experienced any decrease in pain, and I have had trouble sleeping, feeling constantly drowsy, and find it difficult to concentrate at work. I have had some instances of irritability."

• mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2016

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I have been on Lyrica for just over two weeks now. I have pain and pins and needles down my left side. I think it has helped marginally. I have not gained weight or suffered from sleepiness."

• Ale...
• March 31, 2016

For Neuropathic Pain "75 mg. It did not relieve pain, but it made me drowsy and impaired."