Pregabalin and Memory Loss: What Users Say (Page 3)

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

Pregabalin 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."

• Clo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2019

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Disabling occipital neuralgia, daily awful neck pain, and headache for years. Tried a dozen treatments, ablation didn’t work. Lyrica definitely stopped all of the pain. Amazing! Required an appeal on the rejection for insurance coverage. But now trying to figure out how to manage the sedation and forgetfulness. On the lowest CR dose, but it peaks at 8 am, so fogged in during morn. Peak level is 12 hours after taking it. Going to try taking it much earlier (with food). Wish me luck."

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2020

For Pain "I have been taking pregabalin for over a year now to treat vulvodynia, and my pain has gone, but I can still have the burning sensation. Side effects are not good: weight gain, memory loss, tiredness, and feeling not well when I wake up. Would love to come off them, but I fear my intense pain would reoccur."

• Ash...
• April 12, 2012

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Lyrica is effective against anxiety, but I have recently chosen to go off it due to side effects. The side effects are okay (not as bad as the SSRIs), but the main side effects I was concerned about were: brain fog (I became much dumber), forgetfulness, loss of physical sensations, including less feeling during sex. All in all, I would rate it better than any SSRI."

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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "Dr. started me out at 25 mg 2x per day, (dry mouth and no relief. Could swear that I feel worse on this drug.) One month later, 50 mg 2x per day (dry mouth seemed to go away, no relief and still in a lot of pain.) Good thing is I'm sleeping way better. This month, 100 mg 2x per day. Dry mouth is back, slight swelling of hands and feet, drunk feeling, droopy eyes, memory problems, strange convos where I forget what I'm saying and feels like I can't focus on my work. Blurry vision as well. I'm still in a lot of pain. If being on this does not help me by the end of the month, I'm done! I thought this would be my saving grace as no other meds have helped me. Now I'm dreading weaning off after reading all the 'lovely' side effects of withdrawal. Ugh! I'm losing hope but I try to stay positive."

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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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

Pregabalin 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2020

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I take pregabalin 75 mg for almost two years for my spinal stenosis, but it did not help with my right leg tingling. There are side effects caused by this medication, such as sleeplessness, weight gain, speech slurs, and memory loss. I do not recommend using it."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2025

For Migraine Prevention "10/10 would recommend for migraine prophylaxis. I am an RN with an 18-year history of the worst migraine disease, landing me in the hospital and ruining my life. Tried about 7 different preventative medications, with varying effects, but never full remission of migraines. A GP recently suggested pregabalin, and now I'm just regretting not trying it 10 years earlier, I just didn't know it could be used for this. I have had one migraine since starting this medication 4 months ago, and only two other small headaches. Prior to starting, I was basically having migraines on most days of the week and was feeling suicidal. It seems to have a calming effect. My only side effects are feeling a lot of brain fog and some issues with my memory, my daughter says, 'Mum, there's something wrong with your brain!' But I'll take that over severe and unbearable pain and disability. I just set more reminders and to-do lists :)"

• Daz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I have only taken Lyrica for 5 days now. Didn't notice anything at all until today. I was sitting at my desk working, and I started feeling sleepy but didn't fall asleep. I would just stare at the computer. While doing so, I noticed I could not remember how to do my job. I literally sat there for 40 minutes looking at one project and could not figure out what to do. Upon standing, I felt off balance, and my head felt clouded. While speaking to my boss, I couldn't seem to find the right words to say. I went home and went right to sleep. Slept like a baby for 2 solid hours. When I awoke, I felt groggy with a little of the cloudy head feeling. The memory loss is what scared me the most. No matter what I did, I could not figure out what to do. I only read one other post about the memory loss. This must not be a common side effect. I did take Gabapentin one time, and it had a similar effect."

• Iki...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2016

Pregabalin "With the recent changes to pain medication guidelines, I was reduced from opiates and given Lyrica to try. RUN, don't walk away from this medicine. My memory got fuzzy, I stumbled and fell, injuring my back. It keeps new synapses from forming in your brain (i.e., brain damage long term). I have rashes, etc. Most importantly, I started having thoughts of death. All of this on 50 mg at bedtime. In a few years, I'm sure TV lawyers will be soliciting patients for lawsuits. This is a strong chemical to introduce into an already weak person's system."

• Kdi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I have back pain from facet joint synovial cyst thoracic spine. I had an injury a year ago. Tried everything, and nothing helped. Neurosurgeon suggested surgery (endoscopic). I have nerve pain and also bone pain. I had been on Lyrica 150 for two months, which I know is not a huge dose, but for me, it is because I am really skinny. It helped a little for nerve pain and nothing for bone pain, back pain, only this radiating pain, but it made me depressed, and when I was on it, I was like a zombie with memory loss. It didn't do much for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2023

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Didn't like feeling drunk. Tried it for 2 different doctors. The third doctor I really trusted (pain management for spinal stenosis). She insisted it would help regenerate smaller nerves. So she started me on a smaller dose. What she doesn't know--- I only take one at bedtime. No way will I take one in the morning. It makes me feel more relaxed in the morning-----but my short-term memory loss is just not worth it."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2009

Pregabalin for Pain "I have suffered with severe pain from neurofibromatosis. After the first day of taking Lyrica, I felt wonderful. A bit sleepy and forgetful. I have not noticed an increase in appetite, but I have noticed food tastes better. I am also sleeping harder, and it is hard to wake up. After 4 days, I am so happy to have found this."

• JMa...
• February 5, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I suffer from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after I rolled an ATV and crushed my right leg. I have significant nerve damage from the accident. I started taking Lyrica ($350/mo) and started to notice a decrease in my constant leg pain. About 6 months after starting Lyrica, I started to get restless leg syndrome in both legs (literally, my legs were jumping off of the bed) and my hands began to twitch. My memory was slowly fading, and my vision became blurry. I stopped taking Lyrica when I found out that the symptoms could become permanent. Lyrica withdrawal is awful. It's like having the flu x 1000. Nasty stuff."

• pwr...
• January 1, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Been on Lyrica plus Savella for about 7-8 years now, dose is 150 mg 3 x day. While I get some relief of my peripheral neuropathy (PN), fibro, etc. with Lyrica, I've put on 50 lbs over that time, leg/feet swelling and can't seem to get it off no matter how little I eat, mostly water weight gain. After 7-8 years I have become physically tolerant of these meds, need a change, but nothing better out there that I have not tried with little success. Some days, between the pain and tiredness, it has become difficult. Losing some memory too. Anyway, we all need to make choices, take the meds and suffer with side effects or deal with the original pain, which in my case is degenerative."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 23, 2023

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I suffer from internal vibrations and was prescribed Lyrica to help. I’ve been taking 150 mg 2x per day for 9 months. The vibrations improved for about 4 months but have returned. The brain fog and memory issues have been bothering me. I feel like I’m constantly in a daze and questioning whether I’ve got early onset dementia at 43! I’ve decided to wean off the medication and pray I get my clear thinking back."

• Abo...
• January 31, 2017

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Initially, this medicine was a godsend. Burning pain finally fizzled away. Muscle pains didn't help as much. Still got numb and weak as well. The real problem came months later when I realized I was having memory problems. Had to wean off it. Memory loss was permanent. Chunks of time just gone. I still think because of the state of pain I was in I would do it over. Maybe the pain made me block out the time. I wish I would have just risked stopping it sooner to see if the nerve had healed. I still take them when I am desperate for relief. But just one, maybe two, until the zingers stop. Oh yeah, nerves were damaged from electricity. Hand to my neck and face."

• Abo...
• January 31, 2017

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Initially, this medicine was a godsend. Burning pain finally fizzled away. Muscle pains didn't help as much. Still got numb and weak as well. The real problem came months later when I realized I was having memory problems. Had to wean off it. Memory loss was permanent. Chunks of time just gone. I still think because of the state of pain I was in I would do it over. Maybe the pain made me block out the time. I wish I would have just risked stopping it sooner to see if the nerve had healed. I still take them when I am desperate for relief. But just one, maybe two, until the zingers stop. Oh yeah, nerves were damaged from electricity. Hand to my neck and face."