Rash After Quitting Lyrica

I took Lyrica (150mg daily) for 2 years. The medicine helped reduce my leg and hip gain greatly. In January I started working out daily and dieting and lost 30 pounds. I gradually have quit taking Lyrica and am having only a small amount of discomfort at times. The problem is that upon quitting the Lyrica the back of my knees started itching and welps appeared after I scratched them. It has been 3 weeks since I stopped taking Lyrica and I am still itchy. Has this happened to anyone else? Could this be a result of nerve damage?

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REPORT

Lyrica contains the active ingredient Pregabalin, it is an anticonvulsant that has also been shown to help with certain types of nerve pain.

It sounds like what you may be experiencing is a common withdrawal effect from your body trying to readjust to not having the medication.

Even when you aren't abusing a medication, some withdrawal symptoms are normal when you stop taking it, after a prolonged period of use.

Have you tried consulting your doctor in regards to this matter?

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Lyrica/­

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I HAD BAD WELPS TO, REALLY ITCHY TOO. THE ONLY MEDICINE THAT WORKED FINALLY WAS AN EXPENSIVE RASH CREAM (PERSCRIPTION) . FOR BABIES. READ MY POST, MICHELLE IN TEXAS

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My rash started while on the medication, but have it all over my body, and it looks like scabs. I have stopped the meds, the rash has cleared up a little bit, but I am still itchy all over and it's been two weeks since I've stopped, please get back to me if you know there is anything I can take to stop the rash, its horrible, embarrasing, and gross. It started though in my elbows, then backs of knees, then all over.

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My rash occurred after I stopped taking the Lyrica. It continued for about 2 months. Nothing made it stop itching but Hydrocorterizone Cream 2 percent helped the most. It has stopped now, thank goodness, so just hold on.

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well, i had only taken this medication 4 times, and had been really itchey the whole time. i decided to stop based on the itch alone, and 3-4 days later developed an itchey rach on my left shoulder, and pectoral, which is now, a week later, very painful. there is no itch now, it is more of a painful burn. i havent taken the medication in 8 days, and the rash shows no signs of getting any better, and almost seems to be spreading to other places. i dont know what to do at this point, ive used anti-itch creams, but now its painful instead of itchy. DO NOT TAKE THIS

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I take lyrica bow 50mg only at night I have a rash that resembles ring worm but I had it checked its not I am going to a dermatoligist Monday but after reading yours now I know how I got it rash or pain and weakness

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I have been just prescribed Lyrica for my long-term pain. At present I am on 75mg daily increasing to 150mg daily. After a couple of days I started to experience severe itching all over my body, (ears, nose, eyelids, my back, etc). It is very uncomfortable and has become intolerable. I don’t have a rash at the moment but at the rate I’m scratching myself I soon will. I was desperate and very anxious, as I didn’t associate this problem with Lyrica. In fact I thought I was loosing my mind. I am so happy I found this site. I’m going to get my doctor to take me off Lyrica and find something else.

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I have been taking Lyrica for 3-4 years. My neurloigist put me on it for painful neurothapy in my feet coming from a injured nerve during back surgery. I started having a rash behind my knees about 3 months ago with welps, then it started a rash on my elbows, stomach, hands, arms
and now it's all over and my arms are so getting scared from all the scratching. If I misspell any words, I can't think clearly right now. That comes from the Lyrica. We laugh when I can't get my words out but this rash is driving me insane. My MD said yesterday he does not feel it is coming from Lyrica and he has put me one a second Prednizone 14 pack. I had to stop going to my specialist 2 years ago when we could no longer afford insurance. The first pack did make the rash go away but this time it hasn't done as well. Does anyone have any suggestions.

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i too have a rash that started when i took one injection of Humira, but I am also on Lyrica. i stopped the Lyrica and the rash went away, started it again and now I have the rash again on my face, eyelids, chest and arms. it is horribly itching, unbearable, and i just took another 50 mg. pill and thought i would google itchy rash from Lyrica. i pray it will go away when i stop the Lyrica again...i can take my RA and neuropathy better than this itch. is anyone else on Humira also? and please, someone, how can i stop this? it does look like scabs and is worse when i am in the sun or get warm. please help and God bless you all

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OMG I only taken lyrica 3 days and been itching over a month also found a bit of blood when I wiped and I'm starting to freak out I believe the govt put something in that lyrica. That's why they no longer want to prescribe hydrocodone something that really helps pain and with a lot less side effects and they want to take hydrocodone away to get us on garbage like lyrica to ruin our lives please stay away from lyrica.

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My rash has FINALLY gone AWAY after STOPPING the Lyrica...took about 1-2 weeks. I recommend that anyone itching should stop the Lyrica. Also, Humira causes a horrible, itchy rash all over too...I pray my rash doesn't come back! God bless you all...

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I've only taken 4 of the 75 mg pills and got a rash on my neck and chest. It burns and itches. Then I started itching all over. Everywhere! And I thought the headache, dizziness, and nausea were bad. Lyrica was the next thing to try after Cymbalta, which made me suicidal (and I'm not!), and Elavil-which doesn't work! It's so frustrating when all the side effects are so bad/scary! I am done with Lyrica for sure! This itching is awful!

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Verwon, you must be a doctor. I don't think we would all have a rash many months after stopping the drug. My theory is it screwed up our immune system some how. To you others...try Red Clover tea...it is tasty and has seemed to help me when I was at my worst. I also brew FRESH Essiac tea, and then pour some in a bowl with ice cubes and soak paper towels with this and put it right on my rash...this seems to help as well. I also drink the Essiac tea and take a Natural Detox supplement...seems I am improving. Good luck to you all.

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I am having a bad rash after quitting Lyrica (150mg for 2 years). It's behind my knees, down my legs, and on my elbows. Looks like really bad mosquito bites. And my whole body feels like little needles are being pricked into my skin. Itchy. And I am very anxious. It's been about 1.5 weeks now. I have tried everything and only Bayer aspirin seems to help the itchiness. I hope this goes away soon. I hate Lyrica!!

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Hi - was prescribed Lyrica about 3 months ago - everything fine for the first month and then my clothes became uncomfortable to wear (felt like glass particles were digging into me) then I started to itch on and off. I stopped taking Lyrica about a week ago and I am still itching (sometimes with hives) my skin is prickling and I feel lousy. How long will this last - have tried antihistamines and e45 for itchy skin - no relief though!! Help!!

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Yes I was perscribed lyrica and only took it 3 times in a 3day period i have a terrible rash all over and it itches real bad!!!!!!!!!!!! wth

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Update: I went back on 75mg once a day (low dose). The welps are finally gone although there are still spots where they were. My mood is better being back on it. I will have to go off more slowly. If you are having the same reactions to stopping Lyrica, hang in there. Just taper off more slowly than I did. It has been about 2 months now. I am still a little jumpy but not nearly as anxious and jumpy as before. I hope to be totally off it in about 6 months. Hang in there!

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taking Lyrica for a month for terrible leg neuropathic pain - itching started to get worse until it became unbearable. Now off Lyrica for four days cold turkey - unbearable itching all over body - particularly bad on chest and arms - but also legs, ears, eyelids, scalp. Cannot sleep, cannot function ! Worst medicine I have ever been on - had I any inkling of this side effect I would definitely never have started it - pain is almost more acceptable than the itching. Nothing seems to work to alleviate it - any suggestions?

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For those of you who noticed itching while on Lyrica and who continued to itch after stopping it, how long did it take for the itching to stop after you stopped Lyrica?

I've been on Lyrica for 18 months for foot neuropathy. I started to itch after a few weeks on it but my Dr. insists that the itching is not Lyrica. I'm considering stopping it to see if the itching stops.

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Chelsea, Lyrica definitely does have severe itching as a possible side effect despite what your doctor says. It has taken over a month since quitting Lyrica for the itching to reduce to a manageable level - although I was then put on Nexium due to internal bleeding and this exacerbated the itching again, to even more horrendous levels - alleviated only by ingesting large quantities of Pirotin which was the only thing that seemed to give any temporary relief. I am now told that I am hypersensitive to a number of drugs and will just have to try to put up with the ailments, as the 'cure' is almost worse than the problem. My pharmacist informs me that such an allergic reaction to Lyrica is rare in his thirty-three years experience, but when it does happen, it tends to be extremely severe. I am now using meditation with quite good results ! Good luck - I wouldn't wish that itch on my worst enemy !

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Re: Stevie G (# 56)


How did the Calmare therapy go? Are you still doing it? I would like to know about it please. Thank you.

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Worst drug invented!!! Was on it only 50mg twice a day.Itching became severe allergy med helped itching. Stopped the lirica had to go back on it because of itching and I thought it would help.Only to break out in hives plus itching.The med is a joke!!! Eating dirt would of been better.

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Re: helpful (# 43)


I hope you are reporting your side effects to the FDA Med Watch reporting on their website. If we don't we will keep getting pounded by drug companies.

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Re: marconua (# 20)

I have been on Lyrica about 4 years and had to stop because of the horrible side effects suicidal impulses, couldn’t speak/ couldn’t find the words I wanted to say, memory problems...the list is long. But I’m off it and have been for months and then developed a rash first on the lower back of my head then the back of my knees and insides of my elbows now it has spread from my thighs to my stomach and it is beyond any itchy bite I’ve ever experienced 8 weeks now and the steroid Meds and cream only give a little relief and it feels like stabbing shards of glass all over ...of course the doctors say it can’t be a side effect from lyrica even though I am still suffering from the other side effects but at a lesser degree. I was on 600 mg of lyrica a day and slowly reduce.

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Hi did you have any luck finding a solution to this. As the past 2 days, what you have described i am going through from the pregablin.

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I was on lyrica for a few years then my general practitioner wanted me to quit thinking it was contributing to my weight gain. I was told to stop cold turkey. I had a rash and severe itching, I couldn't sleep. It was horrible! When I talked to my rheumatologist ( who prescribed my lyrica) I was told it was dangerous to stop cold turkey that it must be tapered. She gave me instructions for tapering which I followed & have been off for about a year. My pain continues & is worse sense stopping. It did not seem to have any effect on my weight. After all I went through loosing some weight would have been some consolation.

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I was put on Lyrica and after 2 doses broke out in hives The doctor changed me to Keppra BUT 7 weeks and im still broke out on my upper arms,face and chest Doctor says he dont think it was Lyrica But thats the only thing he changed

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After 8 years of being on LYRICA I am finally off! It worked well for my CIP neuropathy for many years. I was taking 300mg plus 100mg of Tramadol per day. Through the assistance of Dr. Deborah Meyers at the Meyers Medical Clinic in Long Beach CA I was able to ween off the Lyrica over about 3 weeks. The withdrawals were horrible but managable. Nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, and insomnia. Eventually I felt human again about the 4 week mark. This is when the itching started. My Dr. warned me that some people can have side effects for months after they stop but for me other than feeling a bit anxious from time to time the only other symptom is the endless itching primarily in my hands and feet but also other parts of my skin. Not sure how long this will last but glad I found these posts so I can try a few things. BTW- the reason I came off the Lyrica was because I wanted to try a new pain treatment that works on the same neuro path as the Lyrica called Calmare therapy so you can't be on the drug when using the therapy. If you suffer from nerve pain or neuropathy you might want to look into this treatment. It's kind of like a TENS unit but they use a different algorithm that retrains your brain without the use of drugs. For some people they become completely pain free. Although it worked to a degree for me, I am not pain free but it's managable and I'm not on Lyrica any more which was my goal. I am now slowly weening myself off the Tramadol and have just started. So I guess I'll see what kind of side effects that brings but this itching is driving me crazy. Thanks for the tips everyone.

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Have any of your doctors stated that it is from lyrica? I just saw my doctor and he said this whole nightmare is not due to lyrica must be an allergen to something else. Nothing has changed in my life with exception of taking that horrific drug.

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Hello! :) Mine didn't itch but the rash/welts disappeared after a week. Hope you're doing better now.

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