Pregabalin and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• fit...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 14, 2022

Pregabalin for Neuralgia "It's not a miracle drug for me. It doesn't help the actual problem area (chronic lower back pain, the right side of my lower back), but it stops the pain from radiating to my legs. I have been taking this for over 5 years with little to no side effects, but my doctor recently titrated me up too quickly in order to steer me away from Tylenol. When my doctor told me he was increasing it, I asked him if it was still OK because I am on other meds that interact with Lyrica, and he said yes. Well, the jump from 200 mg per day to 300 mg has not gone well. I feel so doped up. I feel like I've been hit by a truck, I want to fall asleep right here at my desk. Being so tired is making me feel stupid, moody, and irritable. Be careful with this one, and demand that your doctor titrate you slowly."

• Imb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 3, 2021

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "I was experiencing burning and RLS-like symptoms that brought me to tears. I was prescribed Lyrica and noticed a dramatic difference in my pain, tingles, and other somatic symptoms. I had to find my right dosage, which wound up being 450 mg, but I do not experience any lethargy, head fog, and it really works in calming my nerves. I would recommend this drug to anyone who is looking for relief for neuropathic funk. It has helped me immensely."

• hem...
• May 12, 2009

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Lyrica has its pros and cons, like any other medicine on the market. Lyrica has helped me in many ways, including neuropathic pain and depression, together with other antidepressants. The only side effect that bothers me a little is the fact that I feel tired most of the time, but I can still function with a lot of calmness. On the other hand, I have tried every single medicine for insomnia during the last 12 years, with not-so-great results until I found this medicine. Now I sleep like a baby at 150 mg twice a day."

• non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have suffered regular bouts of anxiety and occasionally pretty severe panic. In recent months, I have felt a fairly constant sense of anxiousness, which has caused me to regularly wake in the early hours with my heart racing and not feeling good. I am 10 days into 75 mg pregabalin twice a day. Days one to five, I was bordering euphoric but noticing the slight 'come down' towards the end of the day, looking forward to the next dose. Sleep much improved but a little groggy when waking. Days 5 to 10 less good. Very lethargic, general loss of sense of time, somewhat 'down' with moments of feeling good even a little 'high.' Throughout the whole period pretty spaced out and not present. Anxiety much, much less though... Not sure it's for me."

• Anonymous
• January 7, 2012

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "I take 25 mg Lyrica in the morning and 50 mg in the evening. My pain was so bad I was beside myself at 43, as I felt I could not do any work on PC, reading, and exercise. Movement activated pain and flare-ups would get longer and longer. Cocodamol made me feel like I was 90, as I was tired all the time. I recommend trying this."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2011

Pregabalin for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "I was prescribed Lyrica in conjunction with Nortriptyline for RSD pain. It has proven to be a miracle worker over Neurontin/Gabapentin. Although both make me very sleepy and tired, Lyrica actually put a dent in the level of pain. While on Neurontin, I was at a constant 7-10/10, Lyrica has brought it to (rarely) 0 and at most (during flare-ups, etc.) 6."

• Jor...
• December 28, 2015

Pregabalin for Neuralgia "Started on a low dosage of 50 mg morning and afternoon and 300 mg at night, but not enough relief at night, so increased dosage to 600 mg at night. Finding myself to be a little more tired now and also feeling dizzy."

• 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."

• Dar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 21, 2019

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I have been on Lyrica 150 mg twice daily 3 years ago. I was tired and had blurry vision. My dose was reduced to 75 mg twice daily, and it worked very well to relieve the throbbing pains in my feet, muscle aches in my legs, and sciatica pain, which originally started after L4/L5 spinal surgery 3 years ago. On the 75 mg twice daily dose, I had minimal side effects (bloating, etc.). My doctor put me on a Transtec (Buprenorphine) patch and changed my Lyrica to 75 mg once a day, and it was wonderful because I was almost pain-free for the first time in 3 years. Unfortunately, recently, the Transtec patch was removed from being covered by my insurance and is very expensive to buy. Now I am back to Lyrica 75 mg twice a day, and it isn't as good as when used in combo with the Transtec patch, but it is the next best thing."

• Geo...
• June 26, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Was on Mirtazapine for 19 days, felt terrible, so tired and worn out in a zombie world. I have now been put on pregabalin 75 mg twice daily. I will wait a few days to get the disagreeing Mirtazapine out of my system. Any positives out there, please?"

• Jos...
• September 10, 2019

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I picked up Lyrica, which I have been taking for seven years with no problems. The label said it was the generic version, and the pharmacist insisted it was Lyrica. I told them I didn't receive anything from my insurance or doctor about the switch. They said my insurance will not pay for Lyrica. I started taking it on Saturday. Sunday afternoon, I was weak, lethargic, and had horrible body aches. Monday afternoon, I fainted twice and had migraines, a 102.8 fever, and a sore throat. I went to the ER, and the doctor told me to stop taking it immediately. I did research online and found the drug is 70% cheaper than Lyrica; the Lyrica I take is $600 a month, while this generic version costs $180. I found websites about the drug and the side effects that I am having."

• Plu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "Had fibro for many years. But have a very stressful family life with a disabled daughter and elderly mother. I had been given Gabapentin which did nothing. I developed severe abdominal pain caused by previous major surgeries. Apparently, it was basically a ball of nerves that healed wrong. So my doctor gave me pregabalin. A low dose didn't do much, so it was increased to 150 mg three times a day. This was amazing. My pain in my abdomen went away, my all-over body pain decreased a lot. I went from barely walking to up to three miles. I felt better. However, I had to stop the occasional drink as the side effects were horrendous. Also, if I cut down, the pain came right back, along with lethargy and headache. I was trying to lose weight, which turned out to be almost impossible. So you have to pick your battles. Pain equals no life or no pain and weight gain."

• Miz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2018

For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "I’ve been taking Lyrica for RSD/CRPS in my knee, and it’s really made a difference. At first, I was crazy tired and really spacey, but now those side effects aren’t as bad. I’m taking 75 mg twice a day right now, and my pain is at least 50% better than it was before the Lyrica. I could use a higher dose, but I’m trying to take as little as I can and be functional. I may increase my dose, but for now, I am happy to say it is really helping!"

• 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!"

• Ray...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2020

For Peripheral Neuropathy "This medication was absolutely horrible. From the first time I took it, I was so tired. I felt like I was going to throw up. I also had a bad headache. I took it for two weeks to see if my symptoms would get better, and not at all! It didn’t help the burning pain I have. Literally, the same day I stopped taking this medication, my symptoms of the ones I mentioned started to ease up. I still had my burning shooting pain, but I didn’t feel absolutely sick."

• Bas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 10, 2015

For Neuropathic Pain "I was prescribed pregabalin for leg pain associated with spinal stenosis. The first prescribed was 225 mg daily. Side effects: extreme tiredness and swollen ankles. When I tried to stop this drug, I experienced severe anxiety and feelings of gloom. Went back on, see and say the pain clinic who advised tapering 25 mg every 2 weeks. I am down to 50 mg am and pm. The withdrawal is one of the hardest things I have been through and cannot wait until this drug is totally out of my system. Lesson learned to research prescribed drugs, their side effects, and withdrawal before blindly accepting them."

• Izz...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 6, 2021

Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I’m a T2 diabetic since 1995 using insulin. I have had diabetic neuropathy since 2011. Initially, I started with gabapentin and changed to Lyrica in 2014, max dosage. I still have some pain with some symptoms which were very cold feet, tiredness, difficult sleeping, anxiety, nervousness, very angry, loss of concentration, not patient. Since 2019, I’m getting additional symptoms which are dizziness whenever I get up and walk even to the kitchen for water, I see cloudy, not even when I go out for a walk, very low blood pressure with a high heart rate, I faint 3 or 4 times a month, nausea, weak arm muscles, muscle aches, twitching and jerking constantly, frozen shoulder on both sides, eyes burning, sweat more, increased ear wax, always tired, unbalanced walking, loose foot, loose arm, shaking hands and legs, pain in between my chest when I walk, and severe pain at the back of my neck. All test results are okay."

• Dre...
• November 6, 2020

For Neuropathic Pain "About 2 years ago, my pain became worse and I was told to give pregabalin another try and started again at 50 mg twice a day. I'm now taking 200 mg, but I'm meant to take it twice a day. However, I found the side effects to be so strong for me that I reduced it to 200 mg once a day. I was very tired, dizzy, blurred vision, and flickering eyes, and I have children to take care of, so me being like this really isn't practical. My side effects have reduced now, but it took about 2 1/2 weeks to get used to it. I have become very bloated in the stomach and it won't go down, which makes me feel very uncomfortable indeed. When I take the 200 mg pregabalin, it does reduce the nerve pain and has gotten rid of the fire burning in my coccyx and bladder, and nerve pain down my legs and in my hips, so I'm in a Catch-22. If I stop, I really don't think I could handle that pain again, and now I'm used to the morning dose. I have to think about starting to take the evening dose and build that back up so I can sleep through the night again."

• Goi...
• May 9, 2017

For Neuropathic Pain "I have a cyst growing between my 4L and 5L, sitting on a bundle of nerves. Found after an MRI. I also have degenerative arthritis in my spine. I started with 25 mg three times a day, it didn't do much at all. Then I was put on 75 mg at bedtime, again not much relief. Now I'm on 75 mg twice daily and 25 mg as needed. I also take 2 extra-strength Tylenol three times daily. Needless to say, I'm in La-La Land. My speech is slurred, I'm tired all the time, and my memory sucks. I have the shakes if I wait too long to take my medication. I have some jerking movements and blurred vision. I'm afraid to cut back on my meds, and I'm having back surgery next month. So I will get back to you on my results with that. Surgery is my last-ditch effort."

• str...
• September 4, 2008

"I have been in pain for years, since my second son was born. After my daughter, I lived with it for 5 years, thinking it was carpal tunnel. Finally, the doctor sent me to a specialist after wearing braces for 1 1/2 years. Fibromyalgia is what the diagnosis was, I was not shocked, until she said NO CARPAL TUNNEL AT ALL. She gave me some 50 mg Lyrica, which worked wonderfully. I did not have to lay in bed for an hour or more before getting the children up for school. I got right out of bed and felt pretty good all day. It did make me a bit tired, but the doctor said you have to build your way up on it. But now, the insurance does not pay for it."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2008

For Fibromyalgia "My doctor prescribed it for me and gave me samples. I have been taking the samples while fighting with the insurance company because they want me to try Neurontin first. I think the Lyrica is really working. I am still tired, but I feel it is a normal tired from having two kids and running around with them. The way I felt before, I couldn't move. I really don't want to use the Neurontin, I don't want to lose the benefits that I have gained."

• Val...
• December 3, 2020

For Neuropathic Pain "I was prescribed this pregabalin for severe pain due to osteophytes squeezing nerves in my back. I took one dose of 75 mg this morning around 6 am. It’s now 1 pm, and I feel so exhausted. My balance is terrible. If anyone saw me, they’d think I was on the sauce! Not for me, and that’s just after one tablet. Be very careful, please."

• 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."

• Min...
• January 9, 2013

Pregabalin for Fibromyalgia "It worked to reduce the pain around my neck and head, but made me tired and did not help pain in other areas."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2017

Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain "Lyrica made me unbearably tired and nauseous - and that's just on 25 mg twice a day. Had to stop taking it. Will never take it again."