Back in 2011, I had a massive TBI / stroke / brain hemorrhage which should have killed me on the spot, I'm still battling the effects of this life-changing event. The TBI caused me to have nasty epileptic seizures on a regular basis and I also indirectly developed type 2 diabetes. I was prescribed a high dose of Sodium Valproate and was also weaned onto a high dose of Pregabalin, this drug combination worked so well that in 2016, I became seizure free and after a DVLA medical examination, I was returned my driving license and was able to drive again. There has always been a warning on my Pregabalin box in capital letters saying "DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICINE" so I always knew that it is some dodgy stuff. But with that said, I also know that Pregabalin is a minor miracle for me when taken properly. Without it, I would be suffering constant seizures and be house-bound for my own safety.

This is the only medication that has ever helped calm my anxiety and other PTSD symptoms. I've gotta say, its a miracle drug in terms of effectivness but i am addicted and the withdrawals are disgusting. Without it, i can't eat, i cant sleep, i cant get up and move because of the nausea, im bathing 3-4 times a day because of the sweating and the stomach cramps are unreal. This is the kind of drug that was marketed perfectly. Everybody loves it until your doctor cuts you off.

I remember this being described as non addictive.

The comparison with Heroin is missleading because opioids like Heroin are often involved in these accidental deaths. Pregabalin increases the effects of opioids, making them more potent and therefore more dangerous. I've took Pregabalin for years and I didn't find it difficult to stop but that's just my personal experience - I had my issues with other drugs. I think it's way over the top to call Pregabalin "extremely addictive" - there are always deeper psychological problems behind every drug addiction and it's naive (but very understandable and human) if you hope that you just can take a pill to get rid of unwanted emotions, swallowing it for some years without adressing the underlying issues, steadily increasing the dose and then wondering why you can't tolerare the state of being without the drug. I've struggled with drug addictions for many years in my life, so I know what I'm talking about. You can't quit drugs with the same quick fix approach that made you addicted to them in the first place.

*"The very culture we live in denies that there's truth, makes people hungry, hurts people, leaves them isolated, therefore empty, therefore wanting satisfaction from the outside, therefore addicted, and then it creates all these products, and all these activities, and all these cultural diversions to fill the very emptiness that it creates. And then they say 'that selfishness is the nature of human beings'. And there's the complete circle of the ideology."* _Dr Gabor Mate_

I am Canadian. I am a senior. I have nerve pain from damage from type one diabetes. I was given pregbalin for the pain. I was started on 4 tablets per day. I went down to one because they make me dizzy. They keep the pain at bay so I can get to sleep at night. I am so sorry to hear that these things are happening to others.

I was on pregabalin for nerve pain after 2 back surgeries- one year apart. It helped with the nerve pain, but caused terrible brain fog. A nurse in the hospital after first surgery, spoke with me saying that because of my advanced age, she felt I should wean off it. I also spoke to a few Rn’s - and my daughter that is an Rn. Then, I spoke with my pharmacist, and he agreed. It took only a week to wean off with no noticeable discomfort. Thank God!

If this doesn't convince you of how dark the pharmaceutical industry is I don't know what will

I took those for many yrs for chronic pain 400mg twice a day. I weaned off because i felt like being drunk all the time. It wasn't an addiction problem tho because i sure don't miss them. The pain didn't go away but i feel better without them.

My grandma was prescribed this. When she moved house she got a new GP and he nearly had a heart attack when he saw how much she was being prescribed by her former GP. Thankfully she managed to ween off it.

I was on Lyrica for 15 years for nerve pain. 3 1/2 years was diagnosed with early stage Parkinsons based on Parkinsonism symptoms. I decided last June that since I had PD and taking an MOAB to tapering off. Well I finished my last dose in mid January 2023, have had my health deteriorate for many reasons. Most important to remember is that I got worse because the Lyrica caused the Parkinsonism symptoms because as soon as it was removed, I continued to have severe withdrawal symptoms that were ignored by my neurologist and primary doctors here in the USA. Long story short, I have lost over 24 lbs since starting withdrawal last year, found put after DAT Scan I NEVER HAD PARKINSONS. I have developed high blood pressure, POTS, malabsortion issue( which has yet to be disgnosed), but have lost 24 lbs with no apparent medical condition but up until 4/6/23 did my GI consider looking at fecal studies funding the malabsortion issue. During this entire nightmare, because it gets really ugly when you have slowly tapered off one dose lower each month until the last dose at 25, January 2023. I was on 300 mgs 2xdaily for Fibromyalgia for 8 of the last years otherwise I was on 225mgs 2xdaily from the start as it was increased every 2 weeks until I got relief. Anyway when I hit 75mgs 2x day in November through April was a living mightmare and Lyrica is the crappy gift that keeps on giving. Anyway I had just been told I had an anxiety disorder I didn't know about because Lyrica masked it, and my anxiety is what is the cause of my extreme weight lossWHAT?? I have been working with my nutritionist during this time and even adter adding an additional 1700 calories a day and still cannot maintain weight. I am not depressed I am pissed..All I did was ask to be put on something that wasn't an opiod and in 2007 was introduced to Lyrica and never questioned until last year why I was still on it. If I hadn't I would have been put on more Parkinsons medication...just use this as an example for all of us to stop thinking what they prescrib is for our benefit or their's?? Godspeed and thank you Ireland for seeing how dangerous this drug is. My neurologist and our NIH state clearly no one knows how or why it works it just does 😮

Pregabalin was a complete nightmare for me. Coming off it gave me terrible suicidality and insomnia. Years later I still have to take a sleeping pill whereas before I was on Pregabalin I never had any issues with sleep.

We need to move away from medicalising and pathologising distress. People need non medical interventions. We need far more social prescribing

Due to arson I became homeless for a number of years. The amount of people sleeping rough and buying pregabalin from others was incredible. People prescribed the drug were selling it to these people. Doctors were being hoodwinked by unscrupulous patients , who then sell it on fo about £10 a strip. They would take them with alcohol and other drugs and become near zombies , with many overdosing and even dying. I did my best to keep away from them........

When I developed Transverse Myelitis the doctors wanted to prescribe pregabalin but I refused. Working in community mental health in US I knew the dangers of pregabalin from seeing patients prescribed it as being not addictive. I saw many for whom it was their drug of choice. That was in 2016. Surely doctors can learn from other doctors.

I'm from Belfast, and lost my kid brother to this junk. He was 27 had a bad car accident and seriously hurt his foot. Our GP recommend this for the pain and fast fwd 2 years he lost his home, gf, daughter and would have done anything for another tablet. We begged or gp to stop the prescription as did my bro , he wouldnt. I sat numerous times with him in A&E while he begged them to section him to get him off it they didn't. A few months later we lost him to this stuff before that he became a shadow of him self and was like a walking zombie on this gear. That week alone he was no 5 that died to this shite. Our GPs should be held to account for what they are giving out. And the health service need to set up a rehab here in NI. To many family have lost loved ones to this and the trauma afterwards Never leaves ever. Familys do all they can't to try to survive this stuff but they are not equipped on how to deal with addition. If your on this stuff get off it. I know it may help but it's a very very addictive drug and really should be last option. I rather take the pain than this stuff and I know first hand what that means.

My mum was prescribed this after she had a stroke for pain. She wasn't consistent taking it but I'd always know when she did as the next day her confusion level would increase and slurred speech returned. I got her to stop taking it once I noticed especially since she wasn't getting any relief.

I feel really bad for people who accidentally get dependent on medication. I'm a former addict I did it to myself. I still pay the consequences but it's sad and unfair that this woman now has to take this medication or go through some kind of withdrawal process that could take years to taper down.

That's so strange, I took this for 5 years and managed to come off it so easily I barely noticed any struggles. Maybe I got lucky

I was on pregabalin and tramadol for nerve damage in my legs for three years due to a combination of side effects from cancer treatment and came off both at the same time and suffered the most horrendous few weeks of withdrawal. Withdrawal from tramadol is bad enough on its own but with the pregabalin it was way worse, 2 simultaneous withdrawals but you need to dig so deep to get away from them, they became a crutch and the first thing i reached for in the morning. My heart goes out to anyone struggling in withdrawal 🙏

I refuse to ever take another anti depressant or anti physcotic ever again. They do more damage than good.

Masking civil unrest with medication is a waste of time, when people can inherently feel their most sacred values being pulled out from under them. This practice is debasing us all psychologically, in real time. A lot of psychological problems come from the inability to act and rightly defend that which makes us human, when threat is imposed by external forces. We are failing to protect our communities, our kids, the family unit and basic moral values which strengthen our bond as a collective. The exchange is that of convenience & cowardice. The results palpable. I'm sure i'm not alone in saying that this inevitable outcome was foreshadowed by many well over a decade ago. We let this happen, but we can still undo the damage now. We need to come together, we need to rise above and condemn these socio-political cancers that pervade our moral collective. Dissolve our boundaries; practice community, love & connection, whilst also detaching from divisive/ weaponized ideologies. I have no doubt that in 50+ years, our history books will be able to illustrate the extent of psychological warfare that has been carried out by our governments during our lifetimes. Let's give our future generations an ending to inspire & uplift their spirits, filling them with the strength they need to march on and preserve that which above all else NEEDS to be protected.

my mom takes this for her Rheumatoid. She abruptly stopped it once back in 2019 and went into a psychosis where she saw people doing drugs in her home, called the cops, they came and put her in a hospital. As soon as she started taking it again back to normal. Stuff is scary. I wish she didn’t have to take ANYTHING. But if taken smart it helps her

Pregabalin has helped me manage chronic nerve pain. I would be in a lot of pain without it. It does need to be taken as prescribed. As with a lot of medication there is risk of abuse.

My experience has been positive taking it for PTSD and anxiety it has given me a calmness I've never experienced with other drugs.

This is why GP’s should make better medication decisions rather than the ones they are getting paid by the pharmaceutical companies to push.

I nearly lost my leg due to a Mbike Accident I take 2 300mg a day, tbh I never really thought it was a issue for me as it really really helped my nerve pain in my eyes I’d rather be on pregablin than a hardcore opioid like oxycodone, I am battling opioid addiction too but I’m nearly away from that life after Joining N/A it’s almost changed my life! I look for a drug free life I will get there one day anyone reading this battling addiction I feel & understand you! We will beat this disease! ‘I can’t but together we can’ ❤️

I know of someone who has been on this for years, they’ve been told it’s damaging their kidneys but saying you need to taper it off and then stop the drug isn’t an easy thing to do, the withdrawal effects sound horrendous

I was on pregabalin for neuropathic pain. Fine at first but then it caused a three stone gain in weight. It also caused visual hallucinations, with me seeing lights racing across the room and people who were not there. My family said also that I was dulled down, I didn't know that at the time. As my weight was going up and up I weaned myself off them. BUT, it changed my brain chemistry completely causing food addictions especially carbs/sugar. This has grossly impacted my life and everyday I have to fight to not over eat every meal and especially carbs. If you understand the effect of glucose in the blood and insulin resistance ( where I am now even years later) you will know how serious this is. Diabetes is a death sentence and this is where I am now. The mental strength it requires not to give in to the altered brain chemistry is immense. It has ruined my life. In UK you can self report such side effects via the yellow card scheme. Just do internet search for it.

Awful drug I was put on this turned my world upside down badly

This and the benzo catastrophe needs to be understood more

Always read about a medication prescribed to you. If it is said to be addictive do not take it! Be suspicious of doctors who prescribe adductive substances/medication, this is an easy income for him or her and will be a terrible experience for you. Any addiction is life threatening. Find another solution!!!

Pregabalin has revolutionised my life with the constant agony I was in from nerve damage after surgery, I've also got a mood disorder that has been helped so much by the drug, I can now deal with people 😊

Was on pregabalin at what I learned was way over the recommended dose for years for RA/fibromyalgia. Memory was becoming abysmal and I felt I was going a bit mad. Absolutely awful side effects when I came off the tablets due to pregnancy. Not sure if I'll ever go back on it, despite how good a pain reliever it is!

This should not be used for anxiety. I don't agree that it's addictive. Or at least "highly" addictive. I took it for a shoulder injury because I didn't want opioids. I halved the dosage as soon as I felt able, without telling my doctor, and eventually I stopped cold, and absolutely nothing bad happened. You should be aware that some people get very depressed on this medication. Don't take it if something else works for you. Also, it is certainly possible to overdose on this if you do combine it with opioids. So just don't.

And the UK still won't legalise weed...

It's use is rising as we are all buying into the belief that emotions need to be medicalised.

These made me pass out cold and upon awakening, I had permanently scared my eyebrow! I stopped taking pregablin and all my other medications and the detox was not fun, trust me I wanted to end my life! I need medication to treat my fibromyalgia but terrified of this outcome happening again!

this is what happens when weed is illegal

I took Venlafaxine for anxiety over 12 years at the lowest untherapeutic dose and couldn't go up or come off it. I took the capsule apart and counted the tiny grains to remove some at a time over 1 year. I still couldn't come off it due to cold turkey. I tried twice more. 6 months ago I tried again but with the assistance of Prozac but that gave me the most anxiety ever. So I had to cold turkey that too at the same time. I just found out that I have ADHD that has got worse with perimenopause. I'm due to start methylphenidate soon and then try HRT. Always research first before taking these medications, I trusted the psychiatrist all those years ago when they prescribed for what they thought was General Anxiety Disorder. I pretty much think it's all down to ADHD for me. Question everything.

Doctors who prescribe this without warning patients of the possible side effects should be struck-off immediately.

I was given these for sciatica.. I don’t know why, but I had a bad feeling about them, so I told my GP I tried to take them and they didn’t agree with me… thank goodness my instinct was right not to take them!

I was prescribed this for nerve pain. It worked really well and I had no problems stopping....

Yet weed is still illegal….

The doctor put me on Pregabalin, but it made me really uncomfortable. I just came off it after 6 months. This was after my neck broke, in December 2003, causing nerve damage, thankfully the surgeons were able to patch me up. I'm on opiate based painkillers which have made me a legalised junkie. At one point my GP had me on over 340mgs of morphine everyday. The consultant when mad stating that morphine should be capped at 200mgs per day. Just shows how some GP's gamble with patients lives. I've cut down to 60mgs per day.

absolutely horrific drug, it nearly killed me

I have fibromyalgia so was prescribed pregabalin for pain and anxiety. I ran out over the bank holidays this year, I thought I was dying. If I run out of pregabalin panic sets in due to the withdrawal symtoms.

took them for 3 years for severe arthritic pain, came off them in 2 weeks without any difficulty. doctor told me to reduce dosage slowly over two week.

I was given this in 2017 due to mental health issues. I’ll tell you exactly what it’s like.. being on speed or amphetamine 4hr highs where your buzzing off your head. It’s not safe it’s not right and it certainly doesn’t help for anxiety and depression. I told my gp my issues they suggested up my dosage when I refused they put me on Prozac instead this was all after being pumped with citalopram and Sertraline with only exacerbated my issues. After Prozac I decided enough was enough I left the nhs system and got self help via positive mindset training now 5 years on I’m practically fully cured and have gone from being homeless for 10 years to having my own business for 4 and making an massive success of my life finally! I cannot stress to people enough to try positive mindset training before trying medication.

Its so nice to finally see some light shed on this pharmaceutical. I'm on Pregabalin [for anxiety] and I ****Ing hate it!! One of these things this report gets wrong is that it's not physically addictive like nicotine or amphetamines, it's that the withdrawal is satanicly bad. Honestly, anxiety shoots though the roof, your jaw starts grinding like your teeth are made of centipedes (which you cannot stop!!) and finally you start twitching and having really deranged thoughts. It's the Devil in a capsule. 1 out of 10, do not get involved!!

Worst withdrawal ive ever been through. I thought i was gonna die

This drug has been pushed on me so many times…..I gave in and took it and thankfully became so miserable my husband made me stop taking it before I was unable to stop taking it.

I wonder what the death count are of people committing suicide due to inadequately treated pain

It's shocking they hand out medication to people like smarties knowing the consequences.

Where ia the balance met though between helping people have a better quality of life to the perceived risk of danger?

I got put on this for hypermobility related joint and muscle pain a few years ago, nothing to do with my nerves, and it gave me such severe intrusive thoughts I had to stop driving until it had cleared my system as I would have hurt myself or someone else. I've experienced acute stress related psychosis in my teens and this drug was on a whole other level, it genuinely terrified me how quickly it came on and how bad it was. It isn't remotely similar to benzos either, they actually work. It has been responsible for many deaths in the US and Pfizer has been sued by a LOT of people (and lost) because of it and the near identical gabapentin, also made by Pfizer. You may recognise the company name for other more recent worldwide reasons too, that isn't a coincidence. They are notorious for this. Doctors don't do anything to warn patients of the very serious side effects of many medications, nor do pharmacists, because it makes them all money.

I was given this by my gp to treat neck pain about 8 months ago. Im quite concerned and will be looking to come off these and find something different

Ive used it for 2 years..I use it -& I don't abuse it or take more than prescribed so this is rubbish. It happens when you take way to much.

As someone prescribed this medication for anxiety, it's an absolute miracle drug, for calming panic attacks and severe generalized anxiety. That doesn't mean this drug isn't extremely addictive, I've been very addicted before as well as combining it with opioids, and it's very dangerous.

I take it for anxiety when needed (75 or 150mg) and it helps... but its nothing better than benzos who have less side-effects. Only advantage over benzos is that tolerance drops to zero after 3 weeks of abstaining whereas benzos need years to reach baseline

Currently being weened off it for my fibromyalgia horrible stuff

Pregabalin helped my postherpetic neuralgia. I had lowest dose for month or two prescribed by my neurologist in Ukraine. F knows why western doctors tend to put your on the highest dose straight away.

Been in Chronic Pain's for multiple reasons but am not on Pregabalin but its cousin Gabapentin & it really helps with the weird pains & muscle spasms however as with anything that can make you feel good people abuse & other people get up in arms about statistics & people who need are left behind.

Hi, my best friend started taking pregablin around a year ago. Since then she has suffered all sorts of health problems including terrible lower back pain, problems going to the toilet and many other pains. She got so ill that she thought she may have cancer and has been having many tests and scans done which eventually came back as possibly having inflammatory arthritis. She has been trying very hard to come off pregablin and has been off them now for almost 3 months but she is unable to eat or get out of bed and is in a very dark place which is probably part of the withdrawal from pregablin. Her most recent scan has come back completely clear with no sign of inflammation! This is only since she stopped pregablin! I really dont want her to go back on them as i do believe they were killing her but she's now in a very dark place and I'm hoping she will improve over time as the withdrawals cease 😢

They are strong. I'd say 300mg pg has a similar effect to heroin plus alcohol from my experience. Why they hand them out like sweets to vulnerable people astounds me.

I'm taking Pregablin off-label for severe restless leg syndrome. It was prescribed after lots of research and discussion with my GP trying to find the best solution. I weighed up the risks and benefits before agreeing to try it. I knew that this is a serious drug. I had awful mental health issues until I was about 40 and now anything that changes my mental state or affects my heartrate still makes me very anxious. There was a risk involved in taking it. But the RLS was making my life miserable, so I decided to carefully try it. I didn't know people were taking it recreationally, and that surprises me. It's not a bit like opiates, although, maybe it is if you take a higher dose. You can't drink with Pregablin. I did once, by accident and found that out the hard way, forgot I'd had a drink and turn took a pill. That scared me off ever doing it again. I felt like my body was slowing down and forgetting to breathe. I can quite imagine that taking this with booze recreationally could kill you. So far, the biggest risk for me is augmentation -- that my body gets used to the drug and it stops working or even makes my symptoms worse. The answer to that is a higher dose. I told my GP early on that I wouldn't be doing taking a higher dose than the one we eventually settled on. My pills are the lowest dose and I take 1.5 of them as needed. One pill isn't enough but 50% more mostly does the trick. I open up a capsule and take out half of the powder. I'm that serious about keeping the dose as low as possible. If 1.5 pills doesn't work, I might on rare occasions take the other half, but I'd have to be really desperate. I take it as little as I can but might have to take it two nights in a row if the RLS is really bad. After that, I resist it for a few nights fo prevent augmentation and addiction. Luckily, the effect sometimes lingers a bit and brings the RLS symptoms down to a more manageable level for a day or two. But not always. Sometimes it's worse than it ever was before. I sit it out. I coped with RLS for 28 years before now, so I know I can manage a day or two, especially when the cure is right there on the bedside table. The temptation is always there to take more and get relief, but the idea of what that could lead to scares me enough to stop me giving in. My GP checks in with me regularly to make sure I'm still doing okay on Pregablin. So far, I don't notice any bad effects from not taking it for a few days. If I ever do, I know my GP will work with me to wean me off it. Unfortunately, there is not really another cure for me if I ever have to stop taking Pregablin. And RLS gets worse with age, never better. So I am very aware that, if I want to keep having temporary relief from the RLS for an hour or two here and there, I have to be very, very careful with how I take this drug so that I can stay on it for as long as possible. I don't think any GP should put anyone on this drug without monitoring them. But I know how overstretched GPs are. I'm sure it happens. Knowing what I know about this drug and how careful you have to be with it, that's frightening.

pregabalin saved my life. nothing more to say.

Gabapentin made me feel drunk, dizzy, nauseous, I gained weight & felt horrible. Pregabapentin helped with the nerve pain without all the side effects but not FDA approved for my condition so was taken off of it. After hearing this I’m ok with it! But still in the journey of pain relief due to multiple issues 😢

i've heard of this drug i didn't realise how addictive and potent it was

Been on pregablin for over 20 years. Miss it for 2 days then 2nd day Anxiety is heightened. Control for Fibromyalgia along with Duloxitine, Amitriptyline, Paracetamol and Tramadole. Add in Metformin, Statins, Ramipril, Amlodipine. Where medical CBD can be used rather than the 1st 5.

Drs need to stop pill pushing and start looking at holistic health more. So many people are unwell because they don’t exercise, eat junk food, drink alcohol, smoke and eat sugar all day.

This was the hardest thing Iv ever been through. I quit cold turkey and thought I was going to die. It’s been 5 months 🎉 I feel much better but still think about it everyday 😢

I've been on it for ages I just stopped taking it didn't have no problems at all.

I had this drug prescribed in 2019 for nerve pain. The neurologist said: "research it and if you don't think it's for you just don't take it". I researched it and never filled the prescription.

Loads of coke heads abuse this. Never once consumed it myself. Had a bad do with benzodiazepines once, difficult times getting off of those and the residual anxiety leaves you worse off for a long time.

Can we all try to help these children of Yemeni who are literally starving to death. It is heartbreaking. There are: many campaigns running on You Tube. Please help if you can. We are to have a mind to give in gratitude to God.

I really hate scaremongering, I have been on pregabalin for anxiety for 6 months now and my life has changed for the better, I’ve never took more than my prescribed dose and I would say I am dependent but at the end of the day we are all dependent on a lot of things including oxygen and water 😂 I’ve dealt with a heroin addict and trust me it is not the same. Maybe in some peoples cases and that’s really bad but almost anything can be fatal. I think if someone is prescribed something then you shouldn’t put them off taking it especially when it can have serious side effects. Pregabalin has abled me to live my life again and get a job and stopped me having panic attacks every day, I have ptsd and anxiety (very physco somatic) and pregabalin has helped me so much, this is just really mid leading in my opinion. You can’t just focus on people with bad experiences

I'm exactly the same 6 years ... its so hard to quit awful withdrawal

I know that in 2015 the street value for this was very low and the supply very high I witnessed people selling scripts I saw a friend had been given this by a dealer friend to "TRY" I told him no as a pharmacist and nurse. I am happy to see this is now a controlled substance when I looked at why the intake demand of this was so high in the individuals who take opioids heroin . I myself am going through cancer and am to frightened to take this drug it is something that makes heroin more potent. I am shocked at the this drug is freely being more available on the streets unlike morphine or heroin their is no substitute like methadone which shows how difficult it is to come off I am sorry to anyone taking this my friend is also suffers from epilepsy the ramifications could have been catastrophic.

I’m not in any pain, but I have suffered with social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety for almost 20 years…I’m able to function on the outside, work and family etc. I’m just an anxious wreck on the inside constantly. A psychiatrist is prescribing me pregabalin to start taking next week. I have to admit I am worried. But i guess it’s better than being afraid all the time and not having a good quality of life? I’m so unsure about this

Was prescribed pregabalin 8 years ago for the chronic pain from fibromyalgia. Was on up to 600mg of it for many years but finally brought it down to 150mg recently. I can’t go any lower, no matter how hard I try. It makes every minute feel excruciatingly long. Seen other comments mention it causing issues with memory too, which got so bad for me I had to see a psychiatrist. It was diagnosed as dissociative amnesia, but now I’m wondering if the pregabalin could be the cause. Scary stuff. Stay strong everyone. I imagine most of us here have been affected by it one way or another.

I stopped taking this drug in my own one month ago. I was on it for Fibromyalgia. I decided to deal with the pain.

Please be aware that pregabalin is pretty much exactly the same as benzos. You WILL get extreme dependence on it if u use it consistently for more than 2/3 weeks

I weaned myself off it, had some terrible insomnia for a while.

Unfortunately, GPs don't tell us these are harmful and the waiting times for treatment there's no choice. I couldn't take it because it made me feel like I was drunk.

I've been on it for years for neuropathic pain and my experience has only been positive.

I was given this drug recommended for ibs ( which I don’t even have ) & belching issues/tummy pain. I only took it for one night and it made me so light headed, so dizzy and made my embedded chronic uti severely worse. The morning after I felt not with it at all, I couldn’t respond properly to a lady I had to see at my mental health meeting, I felt so drunk or something and confused. It hit a major nerve in my bladder and made my bladder frequency, soreness and burning horrendous for more than a week. I just felt absolutely terrible after I took this drug. I would never take it again 😔 I have no been able to sleep without sleeping tablets either still and have felt more suicidal. I despise any dr that prescribes this drug.

If you need a drug to treat a chronic condition you're not an addict, the term here is "chronic"

I called this out recently because of the dependency of drug prescriptions. The professionals can be quite forceful in proscribing these drugs. Ssri are over prescribed. I don’t trust any CMHT to help people. It as bad as gambling with you health. It sad to hear this has been going on for so long.

Lyrica helps me keep walking AND helps my anxiety. I take 150 mg 3 x a day.

There is plenty of risk with this drug but plenty of benefit as well. Misuse and abuse are the main reasons driving up the fatalities but this medicine needs to be carefully monitored and should only be taken if absolutely necessary. For those who depend and use the medication and have benefited, we must be careful not to make the situation such where they are not able to access this life-changing medication. We could do a four times longer documentary of how many people have benefited from pregabalin too.

I ran out the other day and I’ve never in my life felt so awful

I have fibromyalgia. A Dr prescribed pregabalin for pain. Dr gave me a script for 150mg 2x daily. I said how about a low dose to start with? Dr said no, start with 150mg. I took 1 capsule and I felt like I was off my face, I felt drunk, I was having quite violent muscle and limb jerks and head jerks. Well I took 1 capsule and never took anymore. In saying this, I know if used correctly, it does help many people with fibromyalgia. I can see how it could become addictive, especially if it makes people so sleepy like it did for me. Now both my parents are on it and I personally don't agree they need to be on it. Mum walks around like a zombie the next day after taking it, and Dad says he feels super happy all day when he takes it. Both parents live in different states.

It's almost like they make drugs that you are then dependant on for life Chronic take of medication is lucrative. The best way to insure an income to the pharma industry ....

I was prescribed this in 2016 after suffering a badly broken leg following a motorcycle accident , hated the stuff turned me into a zombie and i had the same kind of withdrawal symptoms wasnt pleasant at all one of the worst experiences of my life

Has anyone here been on Gabapentin (1800 mg per day) for around a year and what happens when you try to come off of it ? I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me about your experience.

I’m on pregablin for pain and anxiety my anxiety is bad though we’re I was waking up in police cells and a danger to other ppl but since this taking this I got life back and mow normal and so peacefully

Dr's use to give me all different sorts of pills when I was younger for mood disorders , they messed me up even more . Now a dr in UK prescribes me cannabis . THE IRONY !

Pregabalin is intensely addictive. I was on it for just 4 weeks and when I tried to stop taking it I suffered agonising withdrawal symptoms.

Moral of the story. Do not mix with opiotes. RIP to that poor young man but when morphine is in the mix it's hard to pin it on the pregabalin and not interaction.