Drug Ratings for LYRICAAverage Rating: 2.8 (1072 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from longest to shortest Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LYRICA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 1 | Nerve Damage in feet, back shoulder | It is the worst drug I have ever taken. I underwent surgery to insert a spinal cord stimulator to get off Lyrica. Lyrica side effects were sleep apnea, considerable weight gain and all the other side effects mentioned. Now that I no longer take Lyrica I no longer snore or need the sleep apnea machine with mask. If you have sleep apnea, it could be from taking Lyrica. The drug company does not list that side effct. | M | 63 | 10 years 100 2X D | 11/30/2010 | 5 | Fibromyalgia | slight edema | F | 29 | 8 years 150 mg 2X D | 6/29/2012 | 4 | nerve/muscle pain | drowsiness is the only negative thing I've ever had. | This drug has literally saved me! It's so expensive though. That's one reason I had to get off of it for several mos. when I was in my "donut hole" with Medicare. Whoever thought that thing up must have been smoking something at the time.!!! Anyway,I was miserable on Nuerontin and in so much pain I could barely function. Thank God my Dr. has given me enough samples to get me thru to January. I'm back to my old self and Im very happy, along with my family! I was not easy to live with in all of that pain! LYRICA IS THE BEST DRUG EVER!!!!!!! | F | 46 | 8 years 200mg 2X D | 12/23/2010 | 1 | fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropath | slowed thought process, uncontroled tremors, argumentative, mood swings, weight gain, unable to put thoughts into words, memory lapses, dizzyness, uncoordinated, slurred speech w/ babbling, double vision, narrowed esophagus and wak throat muscles, very heavy periods. suicidal thoughts upon dc of med. | the drug seemed like a wonder drug when i first started taking it. i quickly went up in dose though and by the end of the first year i had reached the maximum recomended dose for my problem. the side effects came on slowly for me so i didnt put them down to lyrica. by the second year my family and friends were noticing the changes and kept telling me something was wrong but i was finally getting some relief from the constant pain that i didnt care what they thought. slowly the medicine stopped working as well and with the increas in pain came increased clarity. i realized i had been on a high for 5 years and had missed so much. that is when i started to back off the dose and all hell broke loose. i went a bit crazy and have not gone back to normal yet. i came totally off the drug in sept. of last year and i deal with most of those side effects still on a daily basis. i started having suicidal thoughts as i came off the drug. they still play through my mind. this drug has ruined my life. i didnt even know some of those problems could show up so i didnt know to look for them. doctors should better educate the patient on what can happen and what to watch for. | F | 44 | 6.5 years 150mg 3X D | 3/31/2013 | 5 | post herpetic neuralgia | Major hair loss is the only one I'm aware of. | I couldn't have continued living with the stabbing pain I had due to PHN.....I tried acupuncture, to no avail, and finally gave in to medication. I really didn't want to but knew I couldn't live in pain any longer. | F | 77 | 6 years 75mg 2X D | 3/7/2013 | 1 | nerve pain in both hands | Suicidal thoughts, anger, weight gain, problem concentrating, I knew what I wanted to say but wouldn't come out right. I also have later stages of gum disease! It made my hands swell and caused even more pain, I hated my life on this horrible drug, thank God I am off of it, it's been over a year....I would rather have the pain! | F | 45 | 6 years 600 | 7/19/2012 | 5 | Skin Irritiation and Pain | The side effects are that Lyrica causes me to be a little dizzy and dingy at times. My brain does not seem to process as fast while on the drug. | The drug saved my life. The pain was so bad in my skin that I had been contiplating suicide. It hasn't cured me, but it makes living with the pain much more managable. Nothing else ever worked. | M | 56 | 5 years 150 MG 3X D | 1/25/2011 | 5 | cauda equina | putting on a bit of weight and long for food. Affects eye sight slightly pm so i go down to 200mg instead of 300. would not do without it. | If I stop taking Lyrica or reduce it the stabbing pains come back five fold. | F | 66 | 5 years 300 2X D | 9/26/2011 | 5 | Neuropathy from lupus | Minor mental fogginess, forgetfulness when not concentrating on a task, DEFINTIE side effects from forgetting a dose (i.e. extreme sleepiness, hot flashes, funny-bone feeling in extremities). | I love this drug as much as one can love taking any drug pfft. After having extreme memory loss on neurontin and not much better luck with gabitril, I tried this at my doctor's suggestion. It was new at the time. After a while, I noticed how I felt that I was high all of the time. Only then did I realize how much of a difference the lyrica had made in pain relief, so at first I dialed back how much methadone I was on until I was able to stop taking it completely. The 'high all the time' feeling left with the narcotics. I take tramadol (glorified Tylenol if you ask me) for breakthrough pain but that is it for pain meds (where at one time I was on quite a few more). One caveat: the longer I am on it, the more I need and I am almost at the maximum dose and I have no options for other effective pain management. | F | 37 | 5 years 200mg 3X D | 12/22/2011 | 1 | neuropathic pain | Bleeding from the anus, itchy anus, faecal incontinence, swelling of face and hands, stomachache, abdominal pain, blury vision, headaches, confusion and loss of memory. | This drug should be made illegal to prescribe and taken off the shelves it's absolutely dangerous. | M | 47 | 5 years 300mg 1X D | 1/30/2011 | 1 | Pain, fibromylgia | Severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts & attempts, confused thinking, anger, extreme forgetfulness (for example would forget where I was going & where I was when driving), many cavities & root canals. | I have started a site to help those with lasting side effects from Lyrica. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! See our page LYRICA SURVIVORS on Facebook. Together we can get this disastrous drug off the market. | F | 40 | 5 years 75 - 300 2X D | 8/6/2010 | 1 | post herpetic neuralgia | weight gain, blurred vision, forgetfulness | The Lyrica is no longer effective for my post-shingles pain, and so I decided to wean off of it slowly because of the expense and side effects. I have never experienced anything so horrible - severe anxiety, deep depression with death wishes, burning skin, nausea, dizziness, sweats, bad bad insomnia and all of this after reducing my dose slowly. 25mg. every two weeks. I went from 225mg to 200mg and then had to stop because I could not take it anymore. I am now back on my usual dose. I do not know how I will proceed from here, but I am determined to get off of this terrible drug. I would rather have just put up with the shingles pain, but I was not informed of this issue. I am an otherwise healthy person. | F | 60 | 5 years 225mg 1X D | 9/18/2012 | 1 | neurological pain | Diarreah, blured vision, swollen eyes lids, nausea. This stuff is poison it should never be sold or prescribed by the criminal doctors who experiment all these poisons on the unsuspecting atient on behalf of the criminal pharmaceutical companies who pay bribes to doctors and governments in order to sell their poisons. I will never use it again. | It's a deadly poison don't take it, have physiotherapy instead. | M | 40 | 5 years | 7/13/2009 | 5 | Fibromyalgia & Diabetic Neuropathy | Lightheadedness; mild euphoria (in the beginning only); higher energy; problems achieving orgasm | wow! I have nerve damage from diabetes near my hips and shoulders, and possibly fibromyalgia symptoms with overall pain at times. But this drug was incredible. No other medication has worked so quickly and effectively. I was unable to sleep on my sides or to raise my arms much, but after Lyrica, within 2 DAYS it was 80-90% GONE. I still can't believe it. On it four years and still working. When I go off of it, the pain comes back. Only downside is that while I can achieve a fairly good erection for a 52 year old, it is very difficult to get an orgasm. I know it's the lyrica, because when I try to go off of it, I have no problem at all in this area. So it's not due to age. | M | 52 | 4 years 75 mg 2X D | 9/14/2010 | 5 | Fibromyalgia, Miagraines | some dizziness with 1st dose in morning but compared with other drugs this is minor--I personally love the relief from pain it gives me. My dosage varies from 3-4 per day depending on my symptoms.. | F | 49 | 4 years 150 mg 4X D | 1/26/2011 | 5 | Trigeminal neuralgia | During first few months, dizziness and loss of balance. Absolutely no side effects now. 37 pound weight loss. | Wanted to get off Tegretol because of bone loss. Lyrica has been a blessing because I was in constant facial and tongue pain. Neurologist has not been able to explain the edge of tongue burning. Was on 100 mg 3/day (max. dose), so dr. prescribed Trileptal as adjunct. Am now taking 100 mg Lyrica 2/day with Trileptal and pain is mostly controlled. Before taking this med I prayed that God would let me die. I also lost 37 pounds, but no weight loss until I'd taken it a year, however a nurse told me she could not lose weight until she'd discontinued use of Lyrica. Would recommend sticking with it because the initial side effects stop. What's a few months of mild dizziness compared to control of the horrible pain of TM? | F | 54 | 4 years 100 2X D | 5/30/2011 | 4 | Fibromyalgia/ Nerve Pain | Initial Weight Gain (45lbs)over a 6 mo. period, Due to Increased Appetite. As dosage titrated up would feel dizzy for 1-2 days then nothing.Blurry Vision,feeling of not caring about things that I normally would. | I was given Lyrica for sciatica and also Fibro. It has helped me make it through the day. For the first year I was eating anything that did not eat me,food had never tasted so good and I did not have a turn off switch in my brain. I continued eating this way until I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize the woman.Talked to my Dr. and he said that I would just need to take control of my own brain. Since then I still want to eat, but I have made myself get up from the table.I wonder if they have tried this medicine for Anorexia. I have been reading some of the comments on here and realized that I never had to wear glasses either, I had put that down to my age??? I did run out of Lyrica on a trip and after 24 hrs. without the drug I was sick. I had shakes, chills, diareha, severe pain all over my body and generally just wanted to die. It is the worst withdrawal I have ever experienced and I went cold turkey off Zanax 10 yrs. ago. So if you take this make sure you have plenty with you if you travel or make sure you use a pharmacy that is Nationwide. I have not had the terrible experiences that some people on here have (thank good-ness). But do know that this is a scheduled drug and you will have withdrawal if you have taken it for anytime. I guess my comment should just say it has helped me more than it has hurt me and it is far better than taking strong narcotic medications if you don't have to. I also take Tramadol 50mg.3 X day for Osteoarthritis and it does not help with t | F | 48 | 4 years 150mg 3X D | 9/13/2010 | 4 | neuro pain, fibro | weight gain, short-lived dizziness, slurring of words | I have experimented with dosages over the years. 300mg seems the best for me and I take it once a day in the evening. It takes 4 hours roughly to reach peak effect and lasts for an hour at this level...a great window to get to sleep in. If I miss the window though, sleep is hard to come by. Dizziness and slurring of words occurs during that hour too. Otherwise I have no pain and work in a busy profession 3 days a week. I cope with it very well now. Sometimes I take paracetamol and ibuprofen or diclofenac as well. Occasionally I need 50mg of Tramadol for more severe breakthrough pain but it is rare and only if I am experiencing a fibro flare. It's an ok drug as far as I'm concerned | M | 53 | 4 years 300mg 1X D | 5/4/2010 | 4 | Spinal Stenosis DDD Chronic Back Pn | Initially had blurred vision which went away as did the "fog" although still a bit tired all the time. But I gained nearly 50 lbs in total, gaining weight every time I went off then back on it, which I did a lot for the first 2 years. Can't exercise and added weight not helping with back or with emotional status. | In spite of weight gain, this is truly a wonder drug. I had horrid pains in both right leg and left arm due to spinal stenosis resulting in fusion/decompression at both my neck (L5-6, L6-7) and lower back (L5). The pain isn't all gone but managable now and amazed at how quickly pains return after missing only 1 dosage. One GREAT side effect - it also has taken care of all night sweats and hot flashes from menopause! | F | 50 | 4 years | 2/15/2009 | 4 | autonomic disorder;DDD;RSD;more | clouded head;word loss;blurry vision, dry mouth;constipation;unsteady balance;"high";tired;mild weight gain (10-20 pounds; shakes; muscle twitches;gas;vivid dreams; sleep talking;mostly a calming feeling but occasional feeling of "pinging" | I have been talking 100mg 3x day for 4 years now. I hate the side effects since they take away my ability to drive and sometimes to even be left alone. BUT..without Lyrica, my pain is unbearable and the pain takes away the same things the side effects do. So I would rather be pain free and "high" then in pain and suffering. I just wish I could tell the difference between the lyrica side effects and the autonomic nervous system symptoms I have so I can finally be diagnosed in that area. | F | 39 | 4 years | 3/2/2009 | 3 | 1 1/2 hours after taking Lyrica ,100 mg, Vision blurred, light headedness, increased urges to talk about anything and most dangerous I have the thoughts of not only suicide but also the desire to hurt the feelings of the people around you. This also extended to sometimes actually having the desire to have a one on one confrontation with anyone that might excite or strongly disagree with me... It takes much self control to tolerate the side effects. I was prescribed the Lyrica for nerve damage in my head after an auto accident, hit from the rear, whiplash... Is it worth it? I am not really sure. But until something better comes along I guess it is. Good Luck! | Be cauious with your dosages not to exceed 300 mg per day, if you can tolerate 3 X 100 mgs per day... It will make you a zombie, or at least other people will see you that way. | M | 60 | 4 years 100 3X D | 5/6/2010 | 3 | Diabetic Neuropathy & GAD (PTSD) | Weight gain++++, impotence, unsteady gait, (needing a walking stick), edema requiring lasix (diuretic) | I am a Australian veteran, Lyrica gives me about 70% pain relief, however trying to get off the stuff is a nightmare, worsening of anxiety with suicidual thoughts. The diuretic causes Gout. So its the devil you know, then nothing else works. I have tried TCA's, SSRI's, other anticonvulsants. Normal pain relief doesn't touch the pain, and I won't take addictive stuff. When I started on Lyrica i was told it isn't addictive, rubbish! | M | 61 | 4 years 150mg 3X D | 5/29/2010 | 3 | CIDP | Weight gain, dry mouth, irritability, fatigue | Lyrica has worked the best of all the different Meds I've tried. However, I either need to increase my dose as the condition seems to have gotten worse or again try something new. My eyesight unbelievably, has improved dramatically, the weight gain however is unexceptable. | F | 61 | 4 years 75mg 3X D | 9/26/2011 | 2 | Neuralgia | Difficulty swallowing (Barium swallow test confirmed this), Blurry vision, Unable to concentrate, Difficulty coming off this med (Marijuana helped tremendously), Colitis out of the blue (lost 20 lbs). | The reviewer that said Lyrica was a "Double edged sword" was right on. Be careful with this drug. Big Pharma does not care about the side effects that their drugs cause. Its all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. | M | 32 | 4 years 150 MG 2X D | 6/16/2012 | 1 | Severe leg nerve damage | Extreme weight gain,back pain,headaches,insomnia. Does help my nerve pain but look what all it gave me in return. My life has been changed for the worst and I curse the day I was ever prescribed this poison! | F | 37 | 4 years 100mg3xday | 7/31/2012 | 1 | Fibro | I thought lyrica was helping my pain. I was prescribed it twice a day, but only took it once at night. I did gain weight and go through a period of losing my hair, however i had been in so much pain for so long i stuck with it. After about 3 years i developed seizures then they stopped. Suddenly last year i developed grandmal seizures. I was out of it. I would nod out. Fall asleep everywhere, couldn't drive or anything else for that matter. Then i ended up in the icu because no one could wake me. I was breathing normally however, my lungs were not absorbing the oxygen i needed. No one knew why. I was in Icu 3 times last year. I have been to doctor after doctor who could not tell me what was happening. Thank God i found a neurologist about 7 months ago who told me lyrica was shutting down parts of my brain. She got me off the lyrica and i had to use oxygen for about two months after i had quit taking it. now no more passing out and no more seizures since i quit taking it. It scares me | It was hard coming off the drug. But I feel so much better mentally now. No more seizures, i now longer need oxygen and i feel like i have woken up from a four year dream.. I seem to have lost that time, but thank God i can make some of that up now. I am no longer intrested in trying newer drugs. I agree with the man who said we need to be given opiates. At least they are natural. I don't want to be a part of drug company experiments anymore. | F | 45 | 4 years 100mg 2X D | 2/12/2012 | 1 | chronic pain, fibro, deg. discs | loss of concentration, extreme fatigue, blurring vision, cataract formation, memory problems, feeling disconnected, palpations, shortness of breath, dry skin/mouth/all mucous membranes, loss of libido, decreased ability and quality of orgasm, siezure like zaps in my brain and body, loss of complete sensation of hands and feet | At first I thought it was the best drug ever because it makes you forget about pain. It's still there, you just don't care as much. When I started weaning off I have experianced 6 weeks of hell. Anxiey, depression, palpations, shortness of breath, brain zaps(hard to explain), so extremely fatigued just walking to the bathroom felt like I climbed a mountian. I'm still taking 50mg once daily and am terrified to lower the dose again but I have to since it is causing cataracts to develop before I'm 50yrs old and it dosn't help anymore. Just adds more problems. Please THINK OF LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES BEFORE TAKING ,THIS TOXIC DRUG! I feel decieved by the manufacturer and would be interested in a CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT if there is one. I took narcotics for over 2 years and withdrawal from them was a piece of cake compared to Lyricia. Please, please think very carefully before starting this drug. | F | 50 | 4 years 100 2X D | 11/20/2011 | 1 | Nerve Pain. Spinal Arthritis | 50# weight gain. "bugs crawling" vision is horrible this last year. Longer you take it your body adjusts and docs increase dosage. 300mg per day for 4 years. dizzy. blackouts. lose train of thought frequently. unable to verbalize thoughts. vertigo. day"nightmares". thirst is overwhelming. | I told my pain doc that it had to stop. on day 4 of withdrawal. this drug is horrible and should not be on the market. FDA MUST step in and Pfzier MUST help the people whose lives, eyes, have been ruined by this poison. | F | 52 | 4 years | 1/3/2010 | 4 | Complex Regional Pain Syndrome | My CRPS is a side effect of failed spine surgery. I have sporadic blurring vision but, my worst symptom is the loss of short term memory. This is getting worse as I remain on the medicine. But, I am finding that if I don't take the RX then my nerve pain hits fast and hard. Even if I am a few hours past taking a scheduled dose it takes hours to get back into my system. This seems to stop helping the nerve damage within hours but, the short term memory is GONE. That doesn't return. Thats is what trouble's me the most. When your a person that has been quick witted and fast to think, write and compose whatever, I chose to do. This has been a great loss to me. | I have often related my status to my doctors as the same as when my father had a small stroke. This is unacceptable to a medicine to leave you so dependent on it that you can't get off of it because of the pain factor but, yet your mind is failing you!!! Can't the pharmaceutical companies look at the medicine and identify the neurological agent and seperate what is affecting the brain? (I know they looked at Gabapentin because that is what I was originally on and it was far worse and it literally dropped my IQ.!!! Anyone that wants to know what it is like to have a stroke and be in recovery needs to take that drug). Seriously, I post this because I am held captive by a drug that I can not get off of because if I do I will be in such pain that morphine doesn't cut it. | F | 46 | 3.5 years 100 mg 3X D | 6/29/2010 | 5 | Longterm herniated discs | Weight gain. Often have a hard time remembering a name or word. Initially had problems taking while enjoying a couple beers/wine, but that completely subsided after a month or two. Can now share a bottle of wine with my husband and have no problems. About as intoxicating as cold medicine. | The best testament I can say is that I wake up and toss and turn all night if I forget to take lyrica. It definitely keeps the shots of nerve pain in my calf and foot in check ( had a pinched nerve). I have far fewer blow outs with my back (20 yr history) and they are much shorter in duration for 3 years now!! | F | 38 | 3 years 100 2X D | 10/22/2011 | 5 | pain from MS | none | F | 53 | 3 years 200 2X D | 3/23/2011 | 5 | DDD, Scoliosis | none | After another fun filled day of pain (sarcasm), I decided to take a high dose of Lyrica in combination with a joint of marijuana. My usual dosage of Lyrica is 150mg x 2 daily. I took 300mg, smoked the joint, and then consumed another 450mg of Lyrica. Two hours later, I've never felt so good in my entire life and I've tried many drugs including about every opioid/opiate. My pain level went from about an 8 to a 3. When marijuana and Lyrica are combined, the effect is a high that's unexplainable, not to mention I get a much needed relief from the pain that's ruining my life. My friend and I watched playoff football and listened to music the rest of the day and I stayed euphoric for 4 hours. When it finally wore off, I felt like I had just taken a muscle relaxer as my limbs turned to complete jello! If you're suffering from chronic pain, fire up a joint and combine it with your Lyrica. It's too bad that I don't live in a Medical Marijuana state. lol Good luck to all in pain! | M | 30 | 3 years 750mg 1X D | 1/17/2011 | 5 | small fiber neuropathy | blurred vision,tiredness,possible mood changes | I take 150mg in morning & 300 at night. Felt like chopping my leg off before and can't imagine having to live with that feeling again. If I miss a dose, I'll pay for it the next day. Pamalor was horrible but lyrica has made the sensations in my leg bareable. Had taken it before Pamelor at low dose and it didn't help at all. Pamelor had so many side effects so tried higher dose of lyrica. | F | 37 | 3 years 150mg 2X D | 11/29/2010 | 5 | Fibromyalgia | Not many...I can't think of any...Maybe some fatigue? | Only med that worked for my serious Fibro. Tried 5 other meds first: All the hard-to-pronounce ones from my Rheumy Dr. - None worked. Lyrica is a miracle drug. Without it, I want to cut my legs off! The only thing that sucks now: I'm going to need a higher dose...and I'm reluctant to increase. Also on Oxycontin now 30mg 3x day for chronic back pain (inoperable). | M | 43 | 3 years 100 2X D | 4/20/2013 | 5 | Epilepsy | Get tired easily, memory it quite as it was. | This has been the only drug that has controlled my seizures and I've tried at least 6. Apart from the tiredness and ocassional spaced out feeling i think this medication is fantastic so please do not let people's negative comments put you off. Your body just needs time to adjust, just make sure you do not miss a dose and never ever stop taking it unless your doctor weans you off it. Hope ts helps. | F | 31 | 3 years 150mg 2X D | 3/11/2012 | 5 | diabetic neuropathy | None | This drug has been a godsend! I took Neurontin for several years, and was grateful for the relief it gave me; Lyrica has eased my pain at least tenfold. | F | 49 | 3 years | 11/8/2007 | 4 | SCI (L4 and L5) Nerve pain in feet | The "high" feeling everyone is describing goes away after a week or two of consistently taking Lyrica. Minimal side effects. I take it before bedtime, but as I stated earlier, after a couple weeks it does not get me tired. Nerve pain has subsided. Used to be in excruciating/debilitating pain but am now able to live normally again. | M | 25 | 3 years 600mg @ nt 1X D | 2/5/2013 | 4 | Neuropathic pain | To the person who said that they wet the bed and are 'high as a kite'. I think it is because you started at too high a dose! I started at 75mg once per day and built up. Even then I felt a bit like you as the dose went up but only for a few hours. I think it has helped me and as far as I can tell, my only side effect has been weight gain. | F | 62 | 3 years 150mg 2X D | 1/31/2011 | 4 | fibromyalgia | Hungry all the rime. 5 lb weight gain, My hair is falling out frequently. small handful every time I shampoo. It does help with the fibro pain but I wish it did not make me shed like a dog | 48 | 3 years 50 mg 1X D | 7/28/2011 | 4 | trigeminal neuralgia | weight gain 30LB, I take 300 mg in the morning and another in the 300 mg in the evening, I am very tired in the afternoon trouble finding words, disconected from what day it is, month or time of year, I have to remined myself to stay focused .It is a strange kind of floating through the day but not in a plesant way. Slow stomach emptying. | Pain control is very good I suffer from level 10 TN | F | 41 | 3 years | 9/21/2009 | 4 | Fibromyalgia | Narcolepsy like sleepiness. Fall asleep while working. countered by taking Adderall, Caffeine and energy drinks. Some short term memory loss. | Prior to Lyrica, I was taking such things as Loritab, Tylernol 3, and Demerol. Lyrica took away 90% of pain. Still have some pain during weather changes, overexertion, etc. | M | 56 | 3 years | 3/14/2009 | 3 | fibromyalgia | weight gain, difficulty with concentration;blurry vision; hair loss.hungry ALL the time.pelvic pain | increased dosage from 50 mg day to 100 mg a day 4 months ago. had been on 50 mg a day previously for 2 years. Hair loss is significant. reduced dosage back to 50 mg a day see rheumy in 2 weeks. | F | 46 | 3 years | 6/29/2009 | 3 | Sciatica | My pain is from sciatica which started after back surgery for a herniated disc. I have gained weight, have brain fog, ankles swelled just recently. No libido, always sleepy. No energy to do much. I have made an appt and will be going off this Lyrica next week. This site has helped me make my decision. | AT the beginning Lyrica was the drug for me. It ceased my sciatica to a certain point. The sciatica was never gone though. I have recently started Bowen Therapy which actually relieved the sciatica. I will continue with it. Whenever you can get off a drug the better it should be. | F | 54 | 3 years 75 2X D | 3/20/2012 | 2 | Peripheral neuropathy | Been taking 150 mg/day for nearly three years now; I'm not sure why I keep doing this since, while some of the foot-burning-sensation was originally relieved, it's back now along with a host of other problems: dizziness, hair loss, eczema, muscle weakness (and I've been doing daily Pilates for nearly a year), weight gain (about 30 impossible-to-lose pounds), and continuing chronic back, leg, and shoulder pain. If this is supposed to relieve the pain, what's wrong with this picture? | I started thinking about being on this for life since there's no "cure" for idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Frankly, if I'm going to give money to someone every month, I'd rather it be a Pilates instructor or a naturopath doctor than Pfizer. My co-pay for an admittedly small dose of Lyrica is $50 a month and before you know it, I'll be in the doughnut hole. Think I'll give up this silly merry-go-round. | F | 66 | 3 years | 8/3/2008 | 2 | nerve root damage | cannot concentrate, extreme bloating--to the point where it feels I am not digesting anything I've eaten and I eventually throw up, feeling like a zombie, depression, anxiety, weight gain with no appetite, water retention, sleepiness on higher dosages, constipation | while this drug has worked well controling pain, I have stuggled trying to stay on it. I am weaning myself off it for the millionth time due to the side effects. I was once up to 300mg a day in divided doses and now cannot tolerate 150mg in divided doses. | F | 53 | 3 years | 4/20/2009 | 2 | RSD - Chronic Pain | Significant memory loss - to the point of not remembering something I did and beleived someone else was messing with me. Had all the common side effects including delusions. had to quit taking after side effects controlled my life. did stop pain | F | 66 | 3 years | 2/19/2009 | 1 | nreve damage / degenerative disk | dizziness, weight gain, difficulty urinating, tiredness, terrible depression, memory loss | I've been on 150mg daily for several years (can't remember how long). the dizziness went away fairly quickly but then the depression set in. 2 1/2 yrs ago I felt myself drop in a dark hole and can't get out no matter what try. Lately suicidal thoughts occupy my mind everyday. It's getting to where it is an actual battle to not do it. I have seen ads from lawyers about pepole committing suicide or trying to while on Lryica. I'm quitting this drug. VERY BAD!!!! | F | 52 | 3 years | 11/9/2008 | 1 | neuropathy,fibromyalia, | immediate weight gain,was on 75mg BID for several years with only this one side effect. Dr. increased to 150mg TID. Slept through 6 months of my life. Higher than a kite most of the time. Family even called pain clinic,thought I was abusing my pain meds.Severe brain fog, memory loss,involuntary body movements,dry mouth,Do not recommend this drug in higher doses.Went back down to 75mg. Some return of symptoms but will live with it rather than deal with the side effects. | F | 43 | 3 years | 8/11/2009 | 1 | Nerve pain, spine damage | Massive weight gain (60lbs), dry mouth (causing extensive dental problems), swelling of feet, face, midsection, and ankles, mood swings, mental fog, dry eyes, sleepiness, increased urination, lack of sex drive | I was taking this medication for about 1.5 yrs before I realized what was causing the problems. I am 5'6" and when I started to take Lyrica in 2006 I weighed about 128lbs. I reached a peak of 187lbs in Jan '09. At that time I began to reduce the amount I took. I have so far, with 3-5 day per week workouts and drastic dietary habit changes, reduced that to 164lbs. I am astounded to read that the company thinks the side effects are Low. Come on, put Lyrica in browser search and you will find so many negative comments that it seems unlikely they don't know. The medicine does work a little to reduce some pain, but with the side effects, it gives more problems. Do not take this poison. I only hope that now that I have totally weaned myself off, I will be able to reduce the weight further and don't have any long term problems from taking this. | M | 33 | 3 years | 10/1/2009 | 1 | Lupus and Fibromyalgia | Weight gain, a phenomenal 50 lbs!!! Drastic hair loss. Difficulty speaking. Severe dry mouth (sounds disgusting, but dead skin needed to be removed every morning). Difficulty concentrating. Vision problems. etc., etc., I could go on and on! | I was diagnosed with Lupus 5 yrs ago, and then Fibromyalgia 2 yrs later. My Dr.'s have seen a significant worsening of my symptoms, but they have no clue what I have been going through on a daily basis. Although I do take other meds in combination with Lyrica and I do realize that they have side effects as well, Lyrica by far has been the worst. At one point my Rheumatoligist had me on 450mg of Lyrica daily. I am currently bedridden and my Primary care Dr. and I have a plan in progress to get me off of all medication. I can't possibly feel any worse. I spend many weeks per year in the hospital, and it seems each time all the Dr.'s want to do is ADD or increase medication. I have been weening off of Lyrica for 3 months now and will be totally off of it in a week or so. I will then ween off of others (mainly Cymbalta, which in itself is a nightmare as well - with a story of it's own!). Although I am in severe pain everyday, and my loss of mobility is a huge concern (due to pain, mainly joint pain which developed over the past 2 yrs.). If need be, I would rather take a narcotic pain medication (opiates). Although they are addictive, they are natural in nature. If I need to take narcotic pain meds to improve my quality of life, at this point so be it!! | F | 54 | 3 years 150 1X D | 8/2/2012 | 1 | Fibromyalgia | Would be easier to say what I didn't get!!! I have no quality of life any more although it has helped with my pain, I wish I had never started it the w/d are too much to handle. I am stuck on 200 mg 4 stone heavier and rising!! Please please think very carefully before taking this!!! Really think the side effects are worse than dealing with the pain!! | F | 35 | 3 years 600 | 1/2/2013 | 4 | FMS | During the first week, some mild euphoria and a 5lb weight gain. A little spacey but tolerable. | A huge improvement in decreasing neuropathy and improving mental clarity. It also helps with anxiety, allowing me to decrease the med I take for that. I believe it should be started at a low dose and increased as tolerated. I've taken 50mg x 3 for nearly 3 years and if I attempt to adjust up I'm to tired. Whenever I've experimented with going off I see a return of neuropathy and I gain another 5lbs going back on. Among my FMS group it is either great or terrible. | F | 51 | 2.9 years | 3/8/2008 | 5 | Post herpatic Trigeminal Neuralgia | Giggling (euphoria) if I take more than 50 mg per day. | This is the only drug that helped my daily episodes of facial pain due to trigeminal neuralgia. It does not dry out my mouth like other drugs I tried (Lortab, Oxy, etc.) It doesn't make me sleepy, either. I'm very thankful for it and that I don't have the bad side effects that some others have reported. | F | 47 | 2.5 years 50mg 1X D | 1/6/2013 | 5 | FM, spine damage | I had a small high when taking the drug the first few months. Pain has subsided but not disappeared. A welcome addition to my pain management. | Please do not make decisions based on what your read here. Everyone is different. Just because someone had a bad experience should not cloud your judgment. Make the decision on how it effect you with your doctor. This is a team effort not a solitary journey. | M | 51 | 2 years 75 mgs 2X D | 8/16/2012 | 5 | Post Herpatic neuroalgia | I had no side effects, but DID HAVE RELIEF FROM PAIN I WAS EXPERIENCING | F | 75 | 2 years 75mg 2X D | 6/30/2012 | 5 | PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY 101 | SLEEPY, MOODY, SWELLING IN LEGS. I have had neruopathy for years. I was up to 3000mg per day of Neurontin and still could not walk after 2 years. It was 2 YRS. ago started Lyrica at 75mg per day. I am now the only one I know of using 800MG PER DAY. I can now walk, shower, ware shoes and socks. And my pain most day now is 3 out of 10. | I have been working closely with the drug company. Two years ago doctors wanted operate on my legs and feet because the pain was about an 11 out 1-10. I could not walk. The pain was unreal. Neurontin @ 3000mg got me walking with LL Bean slippers (the real sheep skin against your feet can really confuses your brain, making it unable to know where to send the pain).It took about 2 years on Lyrica. Sad to say, the neuropathy was moving up my body into my arms and hands to the point were I could not use a spoon to eat.I said let's go for broke 6 months ago. I agreed to use 800mg per day for ME and YOU. Today I can walk with shoes and socks,about 6 hours per day and sleep with socks every night. I also take extra vitman B-6, B-12 to help stop more spread of neuropathy. When I get really bad spikers. I use Neuropathy cream from buckcornerstore.com. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER FOR NEUROPATHY PAIN.Start everyday with thanks to God, and pray for everyone that has life worse. If I can help anyone pl | M | 49 | 2 years | 9/16/2007 | 5 | Peripheral nueropathy in both feet | Initially I had stabbing pains, but this was not much compared to the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. After time I felt the side effects that may have been occurring went away. | I love this drug. I was bed-ridden for 3 months at 34 yrs old with horrific burning sensations in both feet caused by Type-1 Diabetes. Tried Neurontin and experienced many of the negative side effects attributed to Lyrica. After moving over to Lyrica, after 2-3 weeks, I saw a 100% improvement. If you are wrestling with chronic pain caused by nerve damage I recommend at least trying this drug. | M | 36 | 2 years 200mg 2X D | 5/6/2011 | 5 | herniated dics in neck to low back | Increased appetite | Also helps tremendously with RLS. | F | 49 | 2 years 150mg 3X D | 2/23/2011 | 5 | nerve pain | Hangover for the first month! | Helps take the edge off my nerve pain. I slowly tapered off the lortabs and had no problems. Marijuana and lyrica work for me! | M | 30 | 2 years 200 2X D | 7/29/2010 | 5 | Nerve damage/major obdo. surgery | Dry mouth,constant tiredness, occasional difficulty in remembering words or spelling. Note: I also take 100mg M.S.Contin twice a day which has the same side effects. As a breakthrough pain drug I also take Fentanyl lozange 600 micrograms. Usually twice,often three times a day.All contribute to my side effects. | This drug Lyrica was a saviour for me. Following major abdominal surgery for cancer (3.75kg tumor) I was in constant awful pain as a result of major nerve damage, for 2 years, until I was prescribed Lyrica. Great improvement in less than 24hours. I was at the point of suicide to stop the never ending pain. I still have constant pain but much less than prior to Lyrica. I once lost this medication whilst on holiday. After 2 days without Lyrica I was taken to hospital by ambulance, where I was stabilised. | M | 62 | 2 years 300 mg 2X D | 9/2/2010 |