Pregabalin and Swelling: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Nur...
• May 13, 2017

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I was taking Lyrica following a trial of Cymbalta that failed miserably. I was titrated up to 150 mg twice a day. Four days following the last increase in dose, I noticed substantial foot and lower leg swelling. I promptly stopped taking the medication following consulting my physician."

• Nur...
• May 13, 2017

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I was taking Lyrica following a trial of Cymbalta that failed miserably. I was titrated up to 150 mg twice a day. Four days following the last increase in dose, I noticed substantial foot and lower leg swelling. I promptly stopped taking the medication following consulting my physician."

• Ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2015

Pregabalin "It was a nightmare. I had the worst side effects that medicine had to offer. It's been a month and I am still swollen and been to the worthless ER in Grants Pass, Oregon, which is Asante Three Rivers Hospital, where they, after 5 1/2 hours, diagnosed me with shortness of breath. No treatment for the convulsion, the swelling from head to toe, confusion, and the list went on. I was first turned away from Asante Urgent Care, saying they do not treat patients with side effects from medications."

• CHE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2016

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I'm only taking 50 mg at night for my leg sciatica pain, and I feel dizzy at times. I'm also using Dr. Ho's TENS machine on my lower back for 40 minutes to scramble the signal pain. I think both are helping right now. I was on a higher dose, over 300 mg, a few years ago, and my hands and feet swelled up, and I gained 30 pounds I can't get rid of now even with water pills, so I had to stop the medication. I've had shingles right when I turned 50, before I could get the shingles vaccine, which I recommend to everyone as shingles is painful! I took only Lyrica 25 mg two or three times a day to stop the shingles pain, a low dose due to side effects from a larger dose."

• coc...
• July 6, 2010

Pregabalin for Pain "I have been taking Lyrica for 3 months. I started at 50 mg x 3. Increased to 150 x 3 times a day a month later. I have had almost no pain since starting. The side effects have been extreme dizziness, edema in the feet, weight gain (about 15 lbs). At my last appointment, the doctor adjusted the dose to 50 mg x 4 times a day. The dizziness comes and goes. This is a great medicine for me. I can handle dizziness at this level."

• Daw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "This has been the worst drug I have ever taken! I immediately was swollen from head to toe, and it has been worse for my nerves than any of the other 15 medications that have been tried. I have had every side effect other than suicidal thoughts, and now while tapering down, I am having every side effect of that."

• Cin...
• April 1, 2009

Pregabalin for Neuralgia "I am 52 years old and have suffered from neuralgia mostly in my feet and legs. It got so bad I could not fall asleep at night. I take 50 mg morning and night. I read all the comments and reviews on this and other sites. They made it sound like a miracle drug, and I agree. Finally, I had some relief. I am having trouble with swelling and had some weight gain. It has been worth it."

• Anonymous
• June 10, 2010

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I'm so sorry to hear about everyone's weight gain and swelling, and none of this happened to me. I got on phentermine 2 months before I started on Lyrica to drop weight because I did know of the potential side effects, and it has been a blessing. I continue with half a pill of phentermine a day along with 75 mg 2x a day and even dropped 5 more lbs when I started the Lyrica in February. No swelling or hunger-maybe because of the phentermine, but it's worked for me. I also was temporarily put on Cymbalta, and it did not work for me. Lyrica has taken away those everyday aches and pains you used to feel when you didn't know what was up."

• too...
• July 24, 2009

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "Although for some reason, Lyrica seemed to make my pain medications, OxyContin, last longer or work better, Lyrica made my legs swell up. The pain was unbearable from the swelling, and in the end, I had a lot of broken veins. If you're swelling up and your doctor says, 'Oh, you just ate too much salt this week,' get another opinion to get off Lyrica and see if the swelling doesn't stop. I wish I could take it, it really did help. Good luck to all with fibromyalgia, it's an awful and painful disease."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I had a horrible experience with Lyrica. It was prescribed to me to help with nerve pain r/t multiple sclerosis. I ballooned up like a tick! Had to wear my husband's clothes! Ended up with pulmonary edema. I am glad to see it works for some people; just as gabapentin works for me! Good luck to all! And may God bless you always!"

• Kai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 21, 2017

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "So I have neuropathy due to CP. I started Lyrica about seven months ago. In the beginning, I was taking 150 mg twice a day. Then I moved on to 100 mg three times a day because I felt a lag in the afternoon. The only real side effect I got was some peripheral edema. I stuck with the dose, and the side effects went away around the end of month two. Now, my doc just doubled my dose to 200 mg three times a day. No big deal. I do find the increased dose helps with the pain a lot more. I would never discount someone’s experience with a medication - it’s just for me, all is good, no nightmares. So I report my experience with Lyrica has been a pleasant one, but I do feel for all of you who have had negative experiences with this drug."

• Dus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2021

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Lyrica is one of the greatest mistakes I have made with my health. Upon taking, my feet and legs became really swollen, and my feet became so painful that even my sheet touching my feet was unbearable. I had to come off slowly, and the swelling is now completely gone. However, I still have pain in my legs and feet. I have been completely off Lyrica for four days, and I continue to improve, though my pain level in my legs and feet as the result of Lyrica is still a 6/10. While taking Lyrica, my pain was a 9/10."

• Anonymous
• June 17, 2011

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I am an RN and had been hesitant trying any medicines for fibromyalgia. I take Pristiq for maintenance depression medicine, and I have to say that after only 3 weeks, I have had an 8/10 improvement in trigger point pain, no headaches at all. I do have to say that I will probably come off it, though, because I have probably gained 5-8 lbs and had a lot of edema of hands and feet."

• Dow...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Been on Lyrica for 6 months or so, and I did get quite a bit of relief from it. I have had peripheral neuropathy now for 12 or 13 years and have been on all kinds of meds. I take methadone 10 mg 4 times a day and was on Lyrica 150 mg 3 times a day. I could not tolerate this drug very well at 450 mg a day, as it made me swell up in my feet. So now I take two 150 mg. And now my swelling is gone, but I am back to having dark thoughts and feelings of dread. Depressed, I don't know whether to hang in there because it does help with the pain or maybe get changed to something else."

• Kim...
• March 5, 2018

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I have had diabetic neuropathy, severe leg pain for 15 years. One year ago, I started with Lyrica, and it only helps fully if I take it with my Tramadol that I was previously on. Taking those two together gives me about 95% pain relief. Before starting Lyrica and Tramadol, I had been on gabapentin, which after 3 years stopped working for me at all. As far as Lyrica side effects, I had immediate weight gain and an increase in appetite, and swollen feet, legs, hands, face, and fingers, but I guess that's the price I had to pay because without the pain relief I finally received, I would have soon killed myself."

• Kim...
• March 5, 2018

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I have had diabetic neuropathy, severe leg pain for 15 years. One year ago, I started with Lyrica, and it only helps fully if I take it with my Tramadol that I was previously on. Taking those two together gives me about 95% pain relief. Before starting Lyrica and Tramadol, I had been on gabapentin, which after 3 years stopped working for me at all. As far as Lyrica side effects, I had immediate weight gain and an increase in appetite, and swollen feet, legs, hands, face, and fingers, but I guess that's the price I had to pay because without the pain relief I finally received, I would have soon killed myself."

• CRP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2018

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Was given Lyrica for nerve pain of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), took it for 2 weeks and no relief. Started to stumble, brain fog, swelling in feet so bad I can't walk. Now I can't sleep because pain is worse. Bad drug, try something else!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Csh...
• August 11, 2011

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in April 2011. I started taking Lyrica beginning with a starter pack for one month by taking 75 mg once a day for week 1. Week 2 and 3 increased to 75 mg twice a day. Week 4 was the starting point of what was going to be my prescription of 150 mg twice a day. It seemed to give some relief, but I honestly had more bad days than good. My doctor decided to try me with a drug called Namenda (used for Alzheimer's) along with the Lyrica. It helped a little. Swelling, depression, and severe weight gain have been side effects. Cymbalta was then added for depression and pain. I still feel less energetic but not so depressed. 29 lbs were gained within 3 months."

• Win...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2021

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I was put on 50 mg 3x daily for CRPS caused after ACL surgery. I was fully able to do PT but still had nerve pain. My doctor increased slowly to 100 mg 3x a day. I noticed within 3 months I gained 30 pounds. My period stopped altogether. I had horrible brain fog. Very bad dry mouth. Headache. I noticed after two weeks of taking the 100 mg 3x daily that I started swelling in my legs and hands. My feet and hands became very painful and swollen. And my nerve pain seemed to get way worse. My ACL knee started to swell and become very stiff and hurt. I stopped taking this medicine literally 3 days ago and started taking CBD (I thought this stuff was a joke), but it has helped my intense electrical nerve pain through my whole body. And has helped the pain in my hands and feet. Waiting to see if the swelling and other issues go away once it’s completely out of my system. This medication had horrible side effects on my body, just hoping I can reverse it!!"

• Jin...
• September 30, 2009

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "Lyrica was great as a pain reliever. It is not a pain killer. The side effects were brutal - weight gain, swelling, water retention, yikes. I only stayed on Lyrica a few months. I am now trying Robaxasil."

• mse...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2018

For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "I switched to Lyrica after using Gabapentin. I immediately noticed the swelling, which increased my pain and became unbearable. Also, the shooting pains returned. Maybe my dosage wasn't high enough. I was on 1800 mg/day for Gabapentin and only 150 mg/day for Lyrica. After a week, I went back to Gabapentin."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2022

For Neuropathic Pain "Very good for neuropathic pain for me. I liked it because it's less bulky in my pill case than gabapentin. It also seemed to make my moods more stable. I felt less depressed while taking it. (I have bipolar disorder.) However, I had to discontinue due to edema in my feet and over 10% weight gain. (My feet got so bad that I couldn't buckle the straps around my ankles on my shoes.) So, if you're fortunate enough to not gain weight or get edema, it's great. But one downside is that due to people abusing it, it's now a schedule 5 drug (controlled substance) in the USA, and that makes getting refills a real pain. At times, I have felt like I was being treated by the pharmacy and the insurance company as if I were drug-seeking. That is rather upsetting when I'm just trying to get my nerve pain dealt with. Also, when the pharmacy was out of stock, I did not have it for two days. I was subsequently depressed for a week, even though I was able to start taking it again on the third day."

• Anonymous
• June 29, 2008

"It makes the pain go away, and I can finally sleep at night. I'm so glad they have this medicine. The only side effect that I have had is the weight gain, which is 25 pounds so far, and I have only been on it a month. At first, I had some dizziness and minor hand and face swelling, but that has gone away. If they could only improve so it wouldn't make you gain weight, it would be a perfect medicine."