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Lyrica For Anxiety
posted by jennifer Cairns on 12 Apr 2007 at 6:11 am
I started Lyrica at 50 mg for chronic anxiety disorder and when I woke up the next morning I felt so tired. This wore off by 6 pm then the next day it didn't wear off until about 9 pm. I stopped after the first 2 days because of the fatigue. The problem is, the drug may actually have been helping. Has anyone who has experienced fatigue with Lyrica had it ever go away with time?
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Follow-Up Opinions
| Exhaustion With Lyrica |
| posted by Pasha on 12 Apr 2007 at 11:41 am |
I've been on it for over 5 weeks and I can say that I have still not gotten over the exhaustion/fatigue. I kept hoping that there would be a breaking in period and that my body would acclimate, but it hasn't happened yet, and I'm looking forward to discontinuing the drug.
On the other hand, other anti-anxiety drugs will tend to have a sedating effect and may take several weeks to stabilize on. Using Lyrica for anxiety is an off-label use, so you may want to check with your provider as to why this class of drug was selected for you.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica For Anxiety |
| posted by darius on 15 Apr 2007 at 8:50 pm |
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I have been prescribed Lyrica for generalized anxiety disorder and for me it works great. I take 150 mg 3 times daily which I got up to over a three week period and I did experience dizziness and sedation for the first few days of each dose increase. Only a little fatigue and these side effects went away within a week. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica got rid of my GAD |
| posted by missypup on 30 Jan 2008 at 4:56 pm |
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I found that it ZAPPED my GAD perfectly. Lyrica was prescribed for pain, but happily also got rid of my GAD. I am taking five 75mg capsules per day. I also take 75mg of effexor once per day. I hear the mix of the 2 is especially effective. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Does Lyrica Work For Anxiety |
| posted by leif di christofaro on 12 July 2008 at 2:52 pm |
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yes lyrica does work for anxiety and a little for sleep. i do have GAD and it helped with mine ...i was looking for relief for pain and i got relief of pain and relief of anxiety problems. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Fatigue For Lyrica Went Away |
| posted by Barbara on 13 Aug 2008 at 9:33 pm |
I've been taking Lyrica for 2 years and am currently on 150mg in the am & 150mg pm. It took about 6 weeks for the fatique to go away (I started on 75 in the am & 75 in the pm.)Though I take it for neuropathy, the affects are still the same. Once I was on 150 a day for 6 weeks & the fatique lessened I increased it to 300. It no longer makes me tired, though I do take 1 caffeine in the am.
Good luck!!| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica |
| posted by RBH on 24 Sept 2008 at 12:19 pm |
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I have been on the Lyrica for anxiety for 2 months or so. I take 3 pills a day, not sure exactly what the dose is. I still feel drowsy at times and im sure it is due to the drug. Does it work? I don't know...I recently completed a drug/alcohol treatment stay and have been sober for 4 months. I feel amazing, but I am also on Lexapro and SOBER which is probably the reason why. My anxiety level is leveled out but not sure if the Lyrica has caused it. I am thinking about going off of it. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica For Anxiety |
| posted by Michael on 07 Jan 2009 at 1:35 pm |
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I have been on Lyrica for one month now and i take 1-4 of the 50mg capsules every six hours as needed. and it helps!!!! I also take paxil and the combination works so well! I had to tell my doctor that lyrica is good for anxiety because i saw a website for lyrica and treating anxiety, I have been on Lexapro, Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, and Librium for anxiety and lyrica helps! I told my doctor to take me off the benzos and switch me to lyrica!!!! it also helps my migraines. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica Weight Gain |
| posted by Michael on 09 Jan 2009 at 5:52 pm |
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Lyrica hasn't cause me to gain any weight at all! It just depends on the person. I'm also on Paxil which can cause weight gain and lyrica and i haven't gained any weight at all... been taking them for 3 months | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica Side Effects |
| posted by Liz on 12 Jan 2009 at 6:21 am |
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If I were you I'd find something different than Lyrica for your depression! My experience with Lyrica after about 10 months, 150mg 3x's a day, is as follows. Total exhaustion with no explanation. Fuzzy eyes, no brain left, can't put sentences together verbally. Can't remember the name of toothpaste I use 3 x's daily! FAT & BLOATED. I have gained 45 pounds. My ankles & knees swell, my pants don't fit at the end of the day, no sexual desire left, moody, as someone said I'm kind of ADD. My Pain Mgmt Doctor is taking me off this starting in February. MY reg DR. put me on it before he sent me to PM dr. Good luck & really, ask for something other than Lyrica. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| My lyrica experience |
| posted by Anneka on 12 Jan 2009 at 12:14 pm |
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I’ve been on this so called miracle drug ''lyrica'' since about Dec07 me thinks.. So a year and a bit... yes my ''anxiety'' has calmed down. But the side effects 4 me are very annoying, I feel it bloats me that it has increased my appetite and I have gained weight, recently it was increased to 200mg a day which for me is huge and I don’t like it. Its like I’m in my own bubble all day and then I’m too wired at night. I’ve become very anti-social and my speech is all over the place like I cant get the words out that I’m thinking in time, and I stutter a lot now, I just feel so tired sometimes but not rested that all I need to do is lie down and stare into space. I could easily sit in a room for 5hrs on my own and say/do nothing. This is NOT the normal ME. I am on no other medication or ever have been. Lyrica does work for anxiety but Id rather get off it, get back to normal and do other methods of resolving my ''anxiety'' without being a drugged up zombie. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Is The Lyrica Still Working |
| posted by jacqui on 11 Apr 2009 at 8:14 am |
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Just wondering if lyrica is still working for the people taking it. Anyone take 225mg at night? | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica |
| posted by kevin on 14 Apr 2009 at 7:52 am |
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I have been on lyrica since june 07 after 6-8 wks all tiredness was gone, I do have an increased appetite and the only time Ive'had blurry vision is when I forget I ve'taken the first,and accidentally take a double with dose no other side effects.Ive had weight gain of 15-20lbs,but have lost most with EXERCISE,I believe this is very important with this drug.I took 300mg twice a day,only once a day if symptoms are not bad I have a slow metabolism,so this works for me,as the drug is passed thru the urine in about 12hrs,everyones a little different and you should take the min. effective amount as with any drug.I was originally prescribed for a damaged nerve in foot which I couldn't even walk on I now walk 3-5mi at least twice a week,the anxiety cure was an added bonus,this is the only drug I now take. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lost Libido? Lyrica |
| posted by Taryn on 02 July 2009 at 3:49 pm |
and possible weight gain are the only side effects I seem to have had. I've only been on Lyrica for 4 weeks and my anxiety is markedly better. However the loss of libido has also been noticeable, and I seem to be steadily gaining weight....
Oops almost forgot. The blurry eyes I only get straight after taking a tablet, and if I drink I get drunk much faster. I'm currently on two tablets a day and already know I would not increase my dose.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Going Back To Lyrica |
| posted by f clarke on 07 Aug 2009 at 11:15 am |
I took lyrica 75mg to start felt lightheaded dizzy for first 2 day, eventually was up to 150mg twice a day, along with 20mg lexapro, and the odd xanax when needed .5mg.
Only when I stopped lyrica did I realise how much it helped me, I noticed I don't sleep as well off it as on, also can feel a slight trembling inside my bodyhead, also stopped heavy drinking at time of starting meds which has to have helped greatly too, gained some weight then again can't put that down to lyrica because of stopping drinking, has no withdrawl problems coming off lyrica but did it very slowly was down to 50mg once a day which dr said was nothing, but as I said once stopped oticed in two or three days the anxirty going up aging but nothing like it was.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| It Works Great.... |
| posted by Jane on 31 Aug 2009 at 1:53 pm |
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I've been taking Lyrica for 4 months for anxiety disorder. It works like a charm and I only take 75 mg once a day! I'm amazed at how much some others are taking. I have no side effects, I think because I don't take a large dosage? | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Side Effectsof Lyrica |
| posted by Tim Nakamura on 12 Sept 2009 at 10:50 pm |
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I've been taking 75mg dosages 2 times a day, for about a month now. At first I did seem a little tired but I too have Anxiety. That is better but what I can't believe is that my feet pain has disappeared. A little fatigue sure beats having painful feet. Before, I couldn't walk 1 mile. It took a week for me to build the courage to try and walk The Nemisis Mile. My feet & Anxiety is a thing of the past. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica Works Great!! |
| posted by Lynn on 30 Oct 2009 at 4:02 am |
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I was on Lyrica for nerve pain for 2 1/2 years with no weight gain and no drowsiness. I went off it because the pain was gone, but started to notice severe anxiety. Finally I connected the DOTS! The Lyrica was not only a miracle for my nerve pain but it was taking away my ANXIETY problems too! I went back on and, sure enough, that was it. Please don't listen to the negativity if you want to try it. It is too good for some people. If it doesn't work for you then that is ok but for some of us IT IS a miracle. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lyrica helped me |
| posted by Debbie on 04 Nov 2009 at 1:23 pm |
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I have only been on Lyrica for a couple of days and has really helped me. I was one continuous anxiety until my doctor prescribed it for me. I had been on Klonopin for about 8 years and I can say I was a little skeptical about going on the Lyrica and would it really help me. It really has surprised me. Thanks to my doctor and the makers of Lyrica. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| An Amazing Medication |
| posted by Phenos on 07 Nov 2009 at 11:38 am |
I have been in psychotherapy related to child-abuse issues for over 20 years. I've been through more anti-depressants than I can remember. Back in 2004, the sh** really hit the fan. I was feeling so much grief and emotional pain that I couldn't function. I was then introduced to Neurontin. The drug had a lot of side effects, however kept me working while I dealt with my issues. Two years ago I made the switch to Lyrica.
There was a substantial reduction in side effects, and the drug was superior to Neurontin. It brought me to the point where I could not only bear the intense grief I was working through, however it also worked as an anti-depressant for me. I'm not using the drug to "dodge my grief". Lyrica prevents me from becoming overwhelmed to the point where I crying non-stop and cannot even get out of bed. The down side is a substantial reduction in my ability to concentrate. I am an extraordinarily bright individual, however it does not show as much since I have been taking Lyrica. All my thought processes are slowed down. My higher cognitive centers have been adversely affected. The good news is that, when I became so frustrated and flushed all the medication down the toilette, although I did go through an abrupt withdrawal (it was pretty ugly), my concentration did come back to the point that I could solve Sudoku puzzles with ease. I just want to get off this drug once and for all. Regardless, it is an amazing medication.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Noticeable Anti-anxiety Properties |
| posted by Mr. G on 20 Nov 2009 at 1:00 pm |
I have been on almost every single sedative/hypnotic for my anxiety, Lyrica had a distinct sedative effect (for me) which helped with my anxiety, with almost as helpful of an effect (for anxiety specifically) as small doses of short-acting benzos.
The only side effects I noticed were an ever-so-slight dip in my blood pressure and mild weight gain.
I would absolutely recommend psychiatrists and pharmacologists to look into this medication for help with anxiety.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Just Started Taking Lyrica |
| posted by sireena creighton on 22 Nov 2009 at 9:01 am |
Hi everybody, just to say thanks for all your posts, it's really given me some to hear your opinions.
I have bi-polar 2 so I'm on 3 antidepressants and a number of pain killers for my back and hands. I've only been on lyrica 50mg for a few days but i think its great. I've had no real side affects, except when I took it on a empty stomach it did make me feel a bit drunk but it wore of fairly quickly.
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| Lyrica withdrawal symptoms |
| posted by Caleb Shreves on 23 Nov 2009 at 9:22 pm |
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I have had severe withdrawal symptoms with this medication; serious, dark, and scary episodes. I can miss one dose, but by the next dose i'm starting to get strange, and by the dose after that I'm paralyzed in a black cloud of evil. Not to be overly dramatic or anything! | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |