Lyrica Terrible Side Effects (Page 2)

Lyrica has ruined my life. It wasn't bad enough with the pain from my back injury. I only took Lyrica for 2 weeks. The weight gain was bad. I lost 1/3 of my hair in 4 months. I have had a rash for over 1 year now. I mean a bad rash. This was my first side effect. And they warn you of this. Get off Lyrica asap if you get a rash. I thought I was having a stroke the first week on Lyrica when they rushed me to the hospital. I had read on the internet of how many young people have died from strokes from taking Lyrica. My vision is so bad now. I can barely drive at night time and I have to were glasses to see the tv. The worst side effect I've had and still have is the terrible, terrible pain in all my joints. My knees are so bad and my hands and fingers & joints pound and throb 24-7. The swelling in my arms and hands was so bad at one time, I thought I would lose my limbs due to non circulation. The pain is so bad in my knees, I can barely walk everyday. I am self employed and I type and write all day. My hands hurt so bad. I can barely hold anything in the mornings to pin my hair up or put on my makeup. As bad as my pain was and is in my back and cyatic nerve the Lyrica did help. It was a miracle. But I only took it 2 weeks and after 1 year I still have all the terrible side effects. I've been looking on the internet for other peoples bad reactions and I was told by my doctor and the hospital, I had a very bad reaction to it. I've seen a lot of people say they have never got rid of the knee pain and joint pain. Very scary. I called the drug company that makes Lyrica. I told them the side effects that I was having and the first question they asked me was how was my eye sight. I had a fit. I told them the double vision and blurry vision was bad. They made the comment to me that Pifzer was doing a study on this side effect. I was in an automobile accident, that was bad enough, but this drug Lyrica has ruined my life and there is no cure. There are numerous law suits against this drug. I will never be the same again!

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I am totally with you.This drug is the fing devil! I am 3 days off so far and would rather smoke crack than go back.

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I have been off Lyrica for a week after 3 months of decreasing the dosage. It was a wonder drug for Sciatica pain for about 9 months. During this time l endured side effects such as increased weight, cognitive impairment, lack of balance, dry eye syndrome and manic like energy. I decided to discontinue Lyrica due to the side effects. I titrated off slowly over three months because of threads l had read concerning wicked withdrawal from this drug. I experienced serious depression, lack of appetite, lack off energy and painful joints, Even though l had taken a low dose and did a slow withdrawal it was beyond tough. Lyrica's benefits were never worth the side effects or pain of withdrawal.

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WOW!!! I have been in pain for years now, sent to this docor and that doctor, prescription after prescription, I finally go see a neuroligist, and he puts me on Lyrica... I was hoping he would actually do a MRI of my neck and back.. but NO.. I have been taking it for 15 days now.. in the beginnning I thought it was helping.. No headache, but still had back and neck pain. I was sleeping good too. BUT the last few nights I feel like I can not sleep. Started to get a headache today.. I have felt pain in my arms here and there, it hurts then goes away... same as my knees.. Because I have had pain all over my body I don't know if it is a side effect or not.... I will say I am scared crapless after reading these posts... Should I tell my doctor to take me off???!!!!!

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taking lyrica has left me with severe pain and an unbelieable rash on arms,hands feet and legs. I have been off this drug for well over 1 1/2 years and still the rash and itching, scaring and repeated daily breakouus. The drug was deadly to me ans had to quit it and went cold turkey because the rash and itching was so bad. Wish I coulld sue them for all i have been through andd still dealing with daily.

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i have been on lyirca 8 months when i had a sever reaction to it one night it felt like i had fire ants on my hands and feet then it spread all over my body even my scalp little blisters every where after 2 weeks the rash is still there slowly healing my eyes was tested before i started the lyica now my eyes are so bad blurry bubble vision i cant focus on things like i could before i cant read something 12 inches in front of me when i only need glasses to see at a distance not reading glasses the weigh gain is not a big problem sense i was under weigh when i started it but the joint pain is so bad and i cant stay asleep at night for more than an hour at a time so i get close to 3 hours of sleep a night that make my days hard to move around im all ways tired i cant take the cymbalta and now my dr wants to try me on savela and im scared to try it the pain meds help with some of the joint and back pain but the muscle pain is real bad in my whole back and i dont know of anything that helps with that so if anyone knows of a good muscle spasm med please let me now but after the lyrica withdraws and steroids and the nurotion i worried about what to do next

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Lyrica is a great medication! It has helped allieviate the pain in my leg from degenerative disk disease. Thank the Lord for Lyrica

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Wow. I thought I was the only one to have such profound memory loss, wt gain and suicidal ideation! I took 150mg for 2 and a half years. I had to stop practicing medicine because of the memory loss. Everyone I discussed my symptoms with had little to no reaction except to say are you sure it's Lyrica or maybe you're depressed. It's funny how I allowed them to make me believe these issues were self-inflicted. Now, my daughter has JRA and everyone keeps trying to suggest Lyrica as a miracle drug, I refuse to let her take it. She has been pro-active in her research so I doubt she will overturn my decision once she is 18. When I explained to my MD the suicidal thoughts I was having, rather than looking at the Lyrica he prescribed, he wanted to have me brought to ED for psych eval. When I refused, he sent the cops to my house. The ED doc told me to taper the Lyrica and not to worry about commital. Can you believe that?!

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ive been onlyrica 4 abt a year. I had xtream swelling in my feet right away. That went on for months. I guess when my feet couldnt take it any more, it actualy blew holes out the bottoms of my feet ! Theyre abt the size of a nickle and they wont heal. iv been going to wound care specialists, nothing works. gooey patches etc. they hurt like hell ! omg. Try walking thru Wal Mart with a grocery list some times I dont know if I will make it to the check out. But now Im really hooked on it!!! Cant stop, and IV REALLY TRIED! + weight gain ,lousing my hair by the gobs.. I love,hate it. I can meditate like I never could b4 . If I really focus I can FLY in my mind and its really fun! The first time I did it it scaired me. I was floping around, flying right through brick walls, I thought I was fixen to crash,but oddly went right through. I even flew through duct work of an old abandoned building. WOW. But now I can control it, wierd hu ? I soar over mountains, over buildings,down freeways! I know hu? Im 51 I have complete spinel nerve damage &neuropothy from 3 or 4 different problems is why I get it. N ow I was a baby in the 60s but I was a teenager in the 70s and there was still some of that 60s acid left if you just happened onto it,and im telling you this stuff is very simular! And I think they know it!Or maybe a special few, if you know what I mean. Iv heard that LSD was origonally used as a medicine for psych problems in the 50 but some dummies actually tried to fly off the edge of buildings, so they just stoped it. But some college chemists were maken iton the side, probably at home and the resipy got outand was pretty much styfiled by the gvmt. LOL I think some of the components are in it. Good medicine , lousy side effects! Anyway now that I have vent holes in my feet my legs dont swell anymore!

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R U DARK CLOUD FROM fAYETTEVILLE arkansas? Used 2 work w/ me @ the womens hosp in Johnson?

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Well ... howzit now?

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Hi,
I feel the same way ,, **LYRICA** Ruined My Life!!
I took this medication only a few times .. I never could walk correctly again.. I guess I have a difficult time explaining what happened.. when I don't have an understanding myself..
Thank you so much for your post please respond back I have been wanting to make a claim for so long.. I also had a bad accident back in 1990 .. though I did well because I work out at least 3 times a week, I also played many sports too. And I was very afraid of this medication and wouldn't take it for about two months ..I also was afraid of a stroke !! I decided to go ahead as long as it didn't affect my heart,, I had a different surprise :'( **I never walked correctly since**I lost my life** I was unable to understand **It just happened** .. I felt a stange tightness it went through my lower extremities . It has never stopped.. A sad experience-- I'M AS UPSET AS YOU!!..
I later slamed my head in the bath tub went to hospital .. I stayed away from this medication for 2 years.. I never regained my ability to walk again .. I worked out with a friend for many years at Sport & Health before all this happened .. even after my accident and did extremly well until a new doctor wanted me to try this so confident hmm (?).. I also worked out later at Baily's after taking this medication **it was over **I could not get up the stairs ..ankles swelled And stayed that way "One doctor told me to get off of this medication you are allergic to it"" I did just that ! A doctor gave me *Phenobarbital* to stop another medication But, I remembered what this doctor told me. *I was able to use this medication slowly for about four weeks and four more weeks and the swelling went completly down **
One good thing out of this...
I also had numerous falls from this medication :'( I have serious injuries from neck down to spinal cord.. all extremely serious.. even before this fatal day my new doctor said many of his patience love this medication..** It was my nightmare** And a new medication Baclofen - ** Spasms doctor wanted me to try -- **a new nightmare** on top of not being able to walk correctly -- I won't take any **NEW MEDICATIONS** again!
I can't stop having spasms in my legs I hate this! I'm extremely sad I've had nothing but nightmares and have gone through a lot of ****PAIN**** and trying these crazy medications. I need a lawyers help with this... I only will stay on Vicodin 4 x a day!
Is there a doctor that would help me (?) A NORMAL MEDICATION** so glad someone else is having unusal problems -- I really can't believe this has happened I was so active! I've lost my life! I stay in all the time. Please again respond back or if you know a lawyer !!
I have been waiting to see anothers response to this medication! I'm in a serious condition! HELP! I am disabled now I never would have thought this.. wow,, I am normally upbeat but it is taking a toll on me. online :') I have never giving up.. I rest. I normally have come back from everything .. I unsure what else to do.
I wish you well and hope to hear from you. G,J in Bethesda

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I've Been on Lyrica for 6 weeks and I have the following side effects. Serious muscle pain and weakness. Itchy all over. Serious swelling all over. Gained 45 pounds. Really bad blurred vision. Dry mouth.

I was put on this drug for osteoarthritis which seems dumb to me. I have nerve pain which they cannot explain. It helped a bit but I still have major pain in my joints and spine.

I see my doctor tomorrow to go off this drug. I was on prednisone previously to it. It also gave me an allergic reaction. I hope to be off it by end of the week. April 22/12.

I am now not going to go on anything unless it is a narcotic to take away pain only and not for any other reason.

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I just wanted to say I am on 75 mg of the crap!

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Please do not lose your faith in GOD. Even though Doctors recommended 75 mg , 3 times a day , i am only taking once a day for my pain in leg after Heart attack. Soon I will stop it . Please shift to alternate medicine and start breathing exercises. Please post back to me if there's anything I can do to help.I am in India and survived Heart Attack and many other complications by pure DIVINE Intervention.GOD BLESS YOU--

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My mother took high doses of Lyrica for Trigeminal Neuralgia - it almost killed her. She is a self-employed individual who normally is nonstop and ambitious. This drug sucked the life out of my Mom. She became goofy - couldn't carry on a conversation, became highly emotional and cried all the time, she couldn't drive the car without being halfway in the ditch, it made her dizzy and caused injuries, she gained weight, made suicidal comments, and suffered memory loss, and she lost all ambition to work - exhaustion. She made up stories and told people in our town all kinds of goofy things, people kept talking to me and my sisters about it. Thankfully, she underwent microvascular decompression and the next week I had my old Mom back. She lost the weight immediately and I swear she looked 10 years younger in that short of time.

LYRICA sucks!

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Hello everybody!

At first: Sorry für my poor Englisch, I'mm from Germany and found this thread googling for "Lyrica & joint pain". In the german web I didn't find anything at all. So I was relieved but also very shocked when I read about your experiences with lyrica!
I'm taking lyrica for my anxiety since 1,5 years. Started with a dose of 225 mg per day and now reduced it slowly, taking still 100 mg per day. While taking the higer dose I felt pretty good: no anxiety at all, "balanced mood", I never felt better before! But I decided that this was long enough and so I began to reduce the dose. And: my problems began. Shooting/growing pains in arms and legs, like I had the flu or something like that. I already knew this kind of pain since my early childhood: the doctor told us it's normal (something about growing...). This pain (I'm 34 and I think I don't grow any more ;-) ) appears once or twicy a year, I don't know where it's coming from; but usually after a few Hours it desappears.
Ok, I thought it was a withdrawal syndrome. But I reduced the dose 4 months ago and the pain still remains! In addition I have terrible joint pain (wrist, ankle). It mostly hurts day and night. My pain specialist mentioned it's FMS, but I think it has something to to with the (reduction) of the lyrica. I'm only wondering why this symptoms/pain first emerged when I began to reduce the dose.

Now I don't know what to do. My doctor advised me to increase the dose from 100 to 225 mg per day. But i don't think that's a good idea. In fact I want to gett off this drug but I'm very very afraid of what is happening when I discontinue!

I have widespread muscle pain since many years (myofascial pain syndrome, NO FMS) and I'm not interested in extra pain, especially I never had this kind of joint pain before!

Thanks for reading, I hope it was comprehensible to you ;-)

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I can`t express how truely grateful I am to you all for taking the time to document your stories. I too am struggling with the side effects of taking Lyrica for the past few years. I had surgery for carpel tunnel syndrome & believe I suffered nerve damage as I later developed a strange itching problem in both arms between my wrists & elbows. There was no rash or outward sign but the itch would sometimes wake me out of a sound sleep & I would scratch so hard, there would be blood on the sheets. After several years of trying everything from lotions to allergy medication, I was prescribed Lyrica. It was a miracle !! Or so I thought.
I started with 150mg per day & the doctor increased it to to 600mg over 2.5 years. Now I am in the process of weaning myself off of it, even though the doctor doesn`t understand why !!!! I`ll tell you why - because I can`t afford to buy any new clothes - the weight gain has been unreal & way too fast - I feel like I gain weight by breathing !! I`m 48 & was in good health but now I hobble like an old old lady - knee & joint pain, swelling all over - I feel puffy all over my body, tingly fingers & arms, very blurry vision and ringing in my ears. The chubbiness & swelling across my back is really disturbing to me. When I ran out of my prescription a few months back, I went to the doctor & cried like a baby - I asked her what`s wrong with me - I didn`t sleep for days, had cramping, suicidal thoughts & she said it sounded like menopause. Then she wrote the prescription for the Lyrica. Within minutes I felt better and that`s when I knew something wasn`t right. I went on line & have no doubt that I was going through serious withdrawl - not menopause at the time.
So I am weaning myself by decreasing 100mgs for the first few weeks & then to 50mgs until done. My hope is to be off this stuff by end of August.

I would greatly appreciate knowing:
1. Did the weight come off
2. Did the puffiness & water retention stop
3. I know insomnia & resless legs will be an issue but does it get better
I will keep you informed every week of my weaning progress if you want, but would still appreciate learning as much as possible from your experiences.
I`m in Canada & wonder if there will ever be legal action taken. Thank you all so very very much.

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Has anyone had issues bladder problems? I have been on lyrica about 2 months. I've had weight gain, but the strangest issue is finding it hard to pee. It started like a shy bladder, but now it is getting worse. Also, I am now getting stomach pain. I take 450 mg. @ night. I want to get off it ASAP, but have heard i need to titrate off or there will be bad side effects . Any thoughts?

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DO NOT TAKE Lyrica...

THERE ARE NATURAL WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF with many diseases. I am 73 and I am FREE OF FIBRO…. But Lyrica destroyed MY HEARING and MY VISION and I want to join any group who is suing the Lyrica Company.

I had Fibro, but I do not have it now... I will share my success with everyone. I do not sell it but it works!
Email me and let’s chat on email… Remember: I CANNOT HEAR THANS TO LYRICA!

DELTA IN TEXAS

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DO NOT TAKE Lyrica...

THERE ARE NATURAL WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF with many diseases. I am 73 and I am FREE OF FIBRO…. But Lyrica destroyed MY HEARING and MY VISION and I want to join any group who is suing the Lyrica Company.

I had Fibro, but I do not have it now... I will share my success with everyone. I do not sell it but it works!
Email me and let’s chat on email… Remember: I CANNOT HEAR THANKS TO LYRICA!

DELTA IN TEXAS
xxxxx@xxx {edited for privacy}

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