Lyrica And Alcohol

Updated

You are not supposed to drink while on Lyrica. I made the big mistake of doing that. I took my dose in the morning and then got invited by some friends to go out. I do not usually drink, but started drinking around 9:30 pm. I was found in an alley behind a restaurant at 4 am. The last thing I remember was last call at 2am. I am only posting this to give a VERY strong warning not to drink while on this medication. Luckily I am OK and still alive. It is a horrible feeling to not know what happened in those 2 hours. Please do not drink while on Lyrica.

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1

I have been on Lyrica at various strengths from 200mg/day down to 50mg/day. I drink (probably more than I should) but I have never experienced any problems drinking the equivalent of 5 or so drinks while on this medication. I have experience withdrawl symptoms when I stopped taking Lyrical, and that is why I am winding down slowly now.

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2

It is also highly possible that your problem stemmed primarily from the alcohol you drank in the many hours, though the Lyrica may have contributed.

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3

I have been taking the maximum dosage of lyrica, 600 mg daily, and have more than a few drinks after work and have noticed no dizziness, or any other side effects. Must depend on the person...

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4

I also had this problem. It was scary, after I had two drinks, I would start drinking way more heavily than ever before. Thanks for the post- I thought it was just me.

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5

maybe it is because you dont usually drink

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6

Yep, happened to me yesterday, 600mg a day, went to lunch, blackout from 3pm-9pm found asleep in my garden. DEFINATELY drinking good dose on Lyrica effect me... second time it has happened!! Won't be doing again!!! Like other post thought it was just me.

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7

Lyrica also causes dry mouth and contributes to thirst which helps someone drink more and faster than they ordinarily would. Just how good a time did your friends have?

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8

I have just started taking Lyrica for quite severe phantom nerve pain due to a total a Bracial Plexus injury,
I started at 150mg a day ( 2x75mg) and then jumped to 300mg a day ( 2x150mg ), which I found OK for about the first week , then I got severe hangover systems , for about a 3 days when (I hadn't even had a drink ) so I dropped at once to 150 a day again and I'm doing just fine. I do miss having a Beer or two at weekends ,from what I have read from the last few posts , I should have no problems at all. I have drank quite a lot of alcohol in my day , but over the last few years have kept it down to just a couple at weekends. I reckon its time to quench that dry thirsty side affect in get in my my mouth.

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9

I only take 150 mg a day. I think the higher doses (350-600mg) is to blame. I limit my drinking to once in a while. Tops, four times a month, with five or less drinks. I notice I am more "buzzed" then I used to be (without lyrica). I sometimes even skip a dose if I know I'm going out. My advice would be to limit your drinking to 2 or so drinks if you take high doses of Lyrica daily. It absolutely intensifies the effects. Know your body a little better to prevent a blackout. Scary.

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10

OMG! This most definitely happens. I didn't realize the blackout was something to be expected until it happened a second time from just a few drinks. Very scary because you can't tell it's coming. Very careful now!

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11

Hi all .i take lyrica 75 mg aday ..i have plan to go for vication i love 2 drink beer .wine a nd some time Redlable.. can i do that with lyrics 75 mg a day

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12

I've had the same experience though luckily I was at home at the time, so relatively safe. The complete loss of a couple of hours of my life was terrifying. Unfortunately, I didn't make the link for a while and it happened a couple more times. What can I say? My thought processes were pretty scrambled even without the alcohol.

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13

Im only on 50g twice a day atm...and have been for 3 days..after one month of 2x 25g. My doctors working me up slowly next week it goes up again. I am drinking right now Ive had 3 cans of ouzo and coke (which is normally enough for me at a quiet night at home...1 can =1.2 drinks) but I have just cracked another...it does make me thirsty. I havnt noticed any change at all in the effects from drinking (Ive had these drinks over 5 hours...and food..I had my medicine 3 hours ago). I dont think Id go out drinking on it..as say I get very thirsty...if I did Id be sure to limit the amount and make sure to be with people who I trusted and knew I was on the drug. I often get heart palpitations when I drink coke probably because I drink about 5 black coffees a day too...but I havnt had any tonight. I feel much more relaxed on this drug I think it has decreased my anxiety. I take it for chronic nerve pain from a bad back. Ill be interested to see how I feel in the morning. I used to sleep lightly now I sleep deeply.

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14

I understand what you're saying, but believe that if so many of us are experiencing this problem for the first time ever, then there's bound to be something more to it. I was only on 75mg but am only 49kg - the combination of lyrica and alcohol definitely resulted in blackouts that I'd never experienced on alcohol alone. And I'm 53, and had only been prescribed lyrica since the age of 50. The problems began then. I believe they're directly linked. Naturally, everyone reacts differently to both alcohol and medication, so not everyone experiences what I've gone through. I'm off the lyrica now and haven't had a memory blackout since then. Truth be known, even the manufacturers of the drug aren't sure exactly how it affects the central nervous system. Most drugs are like this, particularly the psychotropics. Brain chemistry is complex - add or subtract a little neurotransmitter and the results can be unpredictable. Take care everyone.

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15

I've only just started on Lyrica almost a week ago. I take 1 pill at night before bed. After 2 nights, I was at a wedding reception and had 1 glass of wine (which I didn't even finish) and started feeling terribly nauseous. I broke out in a cold sweat and everything. The feeling lasted about 30 minutes, then I was fine. I haven't drank even a sip of wine since then. I drink wine often, so I'm certain it wasn't the wine. Has anyone had vomiting or extreme nausea with Lyrica with or without alcohol? Thanks!

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16

As I said before I'm down now to 2 X 75mg Lyrica a day now , at the weekends I have 2 to 3 Beers and that does me , I don't get great pain relief from the Lyrica , but I find its better than nothing it relaxes me that little bit and the few Beers I drink helps even more. I believe it concentrate the affects of Alcohol , so I suppose I'm getting the affect of a lot more Beer than 1.5 litres. I believe with me its not really having the drink any more , but the fact that I can tell myself I'm a beer drinker that really matters.

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17

Hi Steve:

Thanks as I do not also abuse alcohol but do like to have a few socials and not go over the edge! I have also been taking Tramdol which is now being weaned off at same time I'm weaned onto Lyrica. With Tramadol I experienced after having taken some alcohol that you got more tired like and maybe agitated or irritable. Not sure if same will occur with Lyrica but will see what takes place. Back issue may also provide some of the affects with alcohol but more so with the drugs I'm sure.

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18

Hi Bob,
I am on 600mg of lyrica and have been for 12months. Don't take your dose until you are home after having a drink. lyrica with alcohol just hits you no warning just knocks you out. You will sleep for several hours and not know anything. I also take it for chronic pain relief from an accident.

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19

I have been taking Lyrica for three years now and was on 200mg a day but have been on 50mg a day for the past couple of years. I can not control my drinking when I am out and am now scared to meet friends. It has ruined my social life and I have only just realised by reading these reports what it has done to me. I also recently became so weak that I could not walk and my neurologist suggested it was Vitamin D deficiency. I went for a blood test and my level was 11.6 nmol/l and it is supposed to be 150! I have suffered from back ache for the past 12 months and after 4 weeks of Vitamin D replacement and fish oil and calcium along with Mg spay on my skin the backache has totally gone. Lyrica stimulates the liver to metabolize Vitamin D. If you have a job which depletes your sun exposure then this over time is a big problem. I would recommend anybody on Lyrica long term to have a blood test. It is also extremely addictive and I am totally hooked. Returning to alcohol. I have found myself totally losing hours out of evenings. I have found posts on Facebook days afterwards; as sometimes I don't check that are quite offensive and I have no recollection of writing them. I have been offensive to people in the street and have found this out from people who I know that I have no recollection of being with at the time. Please try not to take this drug unless you really need it. I am going to do all I can to stop taking it as I feel it is having bazaar affects that change over time and with certain circumstantial factors. I wonder how much Pfizer know about these effects? Thanks everyone.

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20

Hi Andrew, I have been on 600mg of lyrica since late 2012. I was involved in an accident back in 2010 and put on lyrica to help me with mental issues. After reading some of these posts I have side effects mirror imaging. Stiffness in my lower back has been very severe, Fingers cramping, short term memory loss and urine problems.
I just took it all as part of thr accident but looking back these problems were not there then. I have an appointment with a pain specialist very soon so in will see how things pan out then.
My sight has been changing and has drs scratching their heads there too.
My hands also shake and I drop things a lot.
I will get back to you all after the appointments

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95

I was taking lyrica, without being warned it could interact with alcohol. Not being much of a drinker, it never crossed my mind to look into it. Long story short. For me.....it was a disaster. I would get so stinking drunk I made a fool out of myself. Embarrassed my husband. Never connecting it to my med, I actually drank more than I'd ever drank at one time.

One night, after a few glasses of wine, I stepped out my door.....ended up back in my bed with my face swollen and a black eye. Looked like someone hit me in the face with a baseball bat! To this day I have zero memory what happened to me. Not a stitch. That was a one time event. But drunkeness...stupid sloppy drunkeness....every time I drank, seriously disturbed me. I had gone 40 years drinking maybe once a year. No inclination. Went on Lyrica and turned into a blazing idiot. Blamed myself totally. Still no clue about interaction between Lyrica and alcohol. Doctor took me off the med and it NEVER happened again. Never! Some people can drink on it, but not me. Be careful. Actually, don't mix the two. Who knows where you may end up!

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94

Hi, I was reading the comments about combining Lyrica with alcohol in another forum also. One of the side effects was dizziness. Does the dizziness affect your equilibrium to where you have had to lie down or had lost your control of walking? Also, I've read it can make me more depressed than what I was diagnosed with (without alcohol). I do drink and I don't want to either fall down nor lose my equilibrium. Plus my legs were swollen for a week and now they are ok. I read the insert because they were samples Doc gave me and I see that one of the side effects is edema. Would like your advice on taking it while drinking and even without drinking. Also after a week without the meds I just healed from swollen legs. No diagnosis on swollen legs from docs other than fluid buildup. I know I eat too much salt here and there and was out of my diuretics that I hardly ever needed. One bottle of 25 mg. chlordiazepoxide was prescribed to me back in Feb 2017 for it and lasted until a week ago. (Almost 2 years) Never diagnosed with diabetes or anything concrete except maybe slight edema as I said just swelling legs. So please give a reply back to me on both matters. Sometimes I think professional diagnosis' are wrong and it has happened to me a couple of times. Not that I will not get another opinion but I would like to hear from people that have had or have not had similar symptoms.

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93

I am on 50 mg lyrica for chronic lower back just for a week. I like to drink beer once a week. Will lyrica affect me?

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92

Over 4 hrs at a bar.... I think most of us would have done the same. I'd probably go out for a cigarette and I would get dizzy AF and pass out.

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91

I am so sorry for your loss!! How awful! Praying you find peace and comfort amidst this horrible loss. The more I read, the more I think I need to stop this medication. I've only been on it a week.

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90

Zai, I'm with you! I too am functionally dependent on opiates. I function better on my opiates than 50mg three times a day of Lyrica. I was driving and all of a sudden felt like I shouldn't be because of confusion! I never, ever felt this way on opiates! Time to stop the Lyrica!

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89

Pregabalin/lyrica nearly killed me several times at the start I was fine it made me feel invincible alive I have severe anxiety disorder (sad) I took near 2 grams a day (2000mg) took fits near everyday that i was on the Meds and had a bleed in the brain scared the crap outta me I stopped about a year and today I got the urge (stupidly) took just 150mg and feel shakey anxious annoyed at myself guess everyone's different

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88

Than u for share n. I just lost my 35 yr old daughter due to alcohol and Lyrica. Wait n on autopsy report. Person knew she was intoxicated still have her 8 200 mg pills. Charges pending

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87

I've been on lyric 200mg I drink a beer every once in a while so I've gained 30 lbs is that normal

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86

Sounds like you were just blacked out drunk. I mean, I never drink but the last thing I remember is last call...............

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