Does Anyone Taking Lyrica Have Memory Loss? (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I have been on Lyrica for about 8 months now and I am having fantastic results. My dr is trying to increase my dosage and I have been doing it in 50 mg increments. I am up 100 more now in a month, for a total dosage of 400mg. I find that I have very bad recall and loss of my vocabulary during conversation. It eventually goes away, but I was wondering if anyone else has this? If it keeps up, I just may have to drop back down 50mg until I get used to it? That seemed to work that last time I had to raise it.BTW, I have nerve pain in my ribcage. (not caused by shingles)

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I am a health care provider and have prescribed lyrica and taken it myself for neck pain. It is a wonder drug as far as the pain relief is concerned. However, I gained 40 lbs and lost a lot of memory taking it. I have just finished reading an attorney blog where people have posted. Many stopped the med due to severe memory problems causing loss of employment, marital problems, etc.. Many have attempted suicide. Many have not regained their memory. I also stopped the drug about 2 months ago and my memory has not improved. There is some evidence that it can cause permanent damage. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you need to read the blogs as you may want to reconsider taking this medicine. My dosage was 150 mg day at the max dose and still lost memory. I also have lost some of my vision which appears to be permanent.

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Hi,

I am reposting, after reading a number of follow-up posts in my email for this discussion thread. I hope the extra detail may be helpful for some of you.

I am in Australia. I took 150mg of Lyrica twice a day for two months, following my spinal surgery. It was the only medication that provided any relief for the nerve pain; opiates could not touch it. There's the dilemma. I am a 43 yr old healthy and fit female, and according to my most recent blood work, I am neither perimenopausal nor menopausal. I have no nutritional deficiencies.

My surgeon informed me that a speech impediment was a known possible side-effect of Lyrica. I provided him with additional detail on my experience of this 'impediment': I had many years experience as a professional speaker and presenter; but during Lyrica consumption I often had a pronounced stutter and could not recall the words for common objects. I could no longer rely upon my memory in my work as a writer/researcher. It was a cognitive impairment, not a physical one.

I found the attrition of memory and speech even more upsetting than the nerve pain (which was excruciating) and discontinued Lyrica sooner than was planned. But when the forgetful symptoms persisted still almost a year post-op, I resolved to rebuild the memory I once had with various activities. For instance, I returned to regular practice of classical music. This is an activity known to increase neural connections, and to grow the hippocampus (which plays a big role in memory, learning, and language). I read aloud and tried to recite from memory. I also ordered supplements that have been clinically evaluated as nootropics.

The little schedule of brain gym I've made is additional to the physical rehab I undertake for my spine, and I consider it as essential, and am happy with the way it is helping so far. My Lyrica side-effects are receding. Every day, I recall more of what I thought I'd lost.

I'm confident that the inherently plastic and self-healing nature of the brain will respond to my efforts. I have an older friend for whom the process took a few years, so I know it is possible. I hope that some of you might be able to do the same for yourselves. I really do sympathise. Good luck. X

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I have good news! I have been on Lyrica 4 years. Same dose you are on. But I didn't have pain control. I kept reading/searching on Fibro sites for something better and recently read about Low Dose Naltrexone. My doctor agreed to let me try it 10 days ago. Bedtime. 1.5 Mgs. I am ecstatic to report that it prevents the awful migraines and body aches I was having and it helps me sleep. If it causes you too much grogginess, you can take half dose. It has to be compounded at a compounding pharmacy. Is an old medication so not expensive at all.

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This is a Lyrica thread. All countries welcome and yes you may be experiencing loss of memory and the inability to say what we want to say, like trying to find the right word in a conversation. It depends on how much you took and how long you've been on Lyrica. I took it in 2006. Lyrica caused me to lose my job and short term memory. One time I forgot how to drive and sometimes I'd forgot where I was going. I had other symptoms. I took myself off it in 2006. I was only on it a few weeks. I went cold turkey. I kept my phone next to me and told my family what I was doing. This kind of reaction happened to me on another medication in 1976. At that time I was seeing a psychiatrist who was treating my husband and the doctor would talk to me about how to handle him. He was a Sckitzoprenic Sckitzoid or switch those terms around and that would explain my actions about Lyrica. The psychiatrist he was seeing was also a neurologist.
Basically what happened was that he hit me during the night and told everyone I had fallen and suffered a concussion, which the hospital didn't pick up. Anyway I was put on this medication because the hospital said I was an epileptic. After a few weeks had passed my husband went in to see the psychiatrist, when the doctor called me in I told him what the hospital said and the medication they put me on. He told me to stop taking it. He further said I didn't need such a strong medication and also he said that epilepsy didn't run In my family and that all I had was a concussion. I went off the drug cold turkey like he told me to and that tapering the dosage was not the way to go.
That's what I did with Lyrica. I don't recommend it to everyone. It depends on dosage and how long you are on the medication.
I do recommend that if you want to go that route then start seeing a psychiatrist or a neurologist. They deal with the nerves and neurons. And when you get off it some side effects will go away, but some remain. The most common ones that stay with you for God's sake are memory, articulation in speech, and the inability to find the right word.

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No. You are taking to many Rx and suffering side effects from them. Have you been evaluated for surgery at an excellent Neurosurgical center? There are many successful methods for spinal surgery that did not even exist 10 years ago. It would not serve a good purpose to take Klonopin and Ambien. They are the same family of drugs, benzodiazepams. They are derivatives of the Valium family I believe. Research will show you how highly addictive Valium was. The Rolling Stones even wrote a song about it, 'Mother's little helper". A whole generation of addicts was created. I was an RN in those years.
Both Ambien and Klonopin are addictive. Side effects include some dangerous ones. Somnambulism, balance issues, etc. People have been known to fall, drive cars disastrously, wander from home etc. See the PDR or drug sites on line.
I urge you to question your Dr. very carefully. Your Lyrica does not seem to be helping you either at your doses. Perhaps a second opinion is warranted?
Wishing you only the best and pryers for your health.

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Yes, Lyrica has caused me sever memory loss and the memory loss has persisted even though I am not longer on the med... It also increased insomnia and I was so high I couldn't walk in a straight line let alone take drive or take care of my kids without assistance

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Re: Marti (# 432)

I told my doctor I felt worse not better when he started me on the 200mg twice a day dose and he upped it to 300 mg twice a day... It's not just the insomnia, memory loss, or how I was unable to function... I have a constant sore throat, hoarseness in my voice, my voice cuts out while I'm talking/singing, a mucus cough, hardly any short term memory and lost recollection of long-term memories, my speech slurs at times, I have trouble remembering vocabulary that I once regularly used or forget what I'm saying all together right in the middle of my conversation, it increased the pain in my arms, hands, legs, and feet, bouts of constipation and then diarrhea, my stomach has paralipsis and I'm not digesting food properly that all came after the Lyrica... If the medicine made us better we wouldn't need doctors or big pharma anymore... They are not in the healing game they are in the profit game...

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It is a possible reaction to this med, it is listed as a side effect that you should see your doctor about if you experience it. You can see it in the monograph listing here: Pregabalin Details

Have you consulted your doctor on this? There are other meds, of a similar nature, that work on the same types of pain, that you might be able to try instead.

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My doctor has prescribed Lyrica for pain due to a far lateral herniated disc at L3-4. I initially was started on 50 mg 3 times a day and he is increasing me to 2 50 mg tabs 3 x day (Six a day!). Today I have been unsteady, had blurred vision, a little bit rapid heart beat & generally feel bad. At night I am to take Klonopin 0.5 mg and Ambian (10 mg). I am in alot of pain due to this disc, however I feel like I'm headed for an overdose!!!! Is taking this amount of drugs safe???

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My 17 year old son was takeing Lyrica for about 5 months at doses up to 300mg per day. He has not had a dose for over 5 months and is highly distressed at the fact his memory and cognitive functions still have not returned to normal. Lyrica is a disgusting drug , if i had know i would never have allowed my Son to take it.

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I, for one, wouldn't ever again touch Lyrica, with a 10 foot pole! 2 yrs ago I agreed with my GP to try it for severe Fibro pain of 20+ yrs. I have many probs with meds, especially new meds. This one messed with me worse than any med I've ever taken. The first 15 days were without incident, but no change in pain levels either. But, interestingly, absolutely NO side effects. However on day 15, my husband found me standing in the middle of our bedroom sobbing uncontrollably, and shaking like a leaf, yelling at him to 'DO SOMETHING! NOW!!!!' I have never in 55 yrs of marriage spoken like that to him! I had presence of mind to tell him to call our long time GP of 35 yrs, and it was determined the culprit was a side effect of Lyrica, and I was told to start titrating down off it, immediately. I had to stay in touch with GP for weeks after. I still wonder if short term memory loss , which only happens rarely, is due to this med. I don't intend ever using it again, tho, to find that out!.

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I also have found myself lost for word many time my family & friend also notice.

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From experience with my son ,, the Lyrica does permanent damage

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Clair ,read the comments , Lyrica has cost so many people there jobs and they are never the same after they have taken it , even after ceasing many years , this stuff will give you a chemical lobotomy , Lyrica is a heart breaking night mare for all who are unfortunate to take it .

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I forgot why I came here.

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Hi Ian , has your memory returned to normal since you stopped taking Lyrica ?

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My memory loss, vocabulary, and names has plagued me also. I was beginning to think I had Alhzeimers disease. I am on Lyrica 150mg,three times a day. I am relieved to think it is the Lyrica instead of the alternative. It does control my severe fibromyalgia pain when nothing else did.

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I took Lyrica at a high dose for over a year ( I can't remember the dose or the time on the med!) after my pain doc changed me from Gabapentin, which was working well for my facial pain. The doc thought the Lyrics would work better--and at a lower dose than the Gabapentin. I had the significant short-term memory loss, challenges having a conversation due to difficulty finding words, unsteady gait, and a noticeably slurred speech, as well as hearing loss. I attributed these symptoms to other meds, including narcotics, that I was taking. A sign that my thinking was muddled! It became most noticeable when I transferred to another department at the hospital. Up to that time, I was an advanced practice nurse with a good reputation. During my training period, I had a HORRIBLE time learning new concepts. One of the staff members at the new job who knew my abilities at my previous job told me that it was like flipping a switch--my capabilities at my previous position vs the new one. THAT'S when I demanded to stop the Lyrica. I did notice improvement of the short-term memory loss, staggering gait, and slurred speech after switching back to the Gabapentin. I did, however, continue to have the same issues, but to a lesser degree. The hearing loss is unchanged, and appears to be permanent. It's so very frustrating to have these symptoms continue after stopping the Lyrica. Please send a post if you have any info which might benefit me.
Thanks!

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Please men tell me. Does lyrica or citalopram affect your libido? I read that somewhere. To all of you: does lyrica increase the seizures or makes you think more depressed or suicidal? Thanks.

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Hi it has been over 5 years since my now 22 year old son had his last dose of Lyrica and still has not recovered what was once a remarkable memory and intelligence , Lyrica is with no doubt a dumbing down drug that causes permanent changes or damage to the brain , it has ruined our lives ...

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