Lyrica Is Dangerous / Class Action Suit Anyone?

I have crps in both hands from carpal tunnel release...after several months, I was worse, not better. My workmens comp dr. said " You will have chronic pain the rest of your life and you will just have to learn to live with it"...oh thanks doc for screwing my hands up, not to mention how it has drastically has changed my life and limitations. I have been seeing a pain specialist ever since and that was back in 2001 when I had the release. I was on lyrica for the last 6 years, I have been off of it for three months. Now that I think back to when my severe depression started was not long since I started taking it. I don't know how many times I said I hate my life and I wish I was dead, I had thoughts of taking all my prescriptions and going to sleep for good! By the grace of god, I had my four nephews to take care of and I truly believe they saved my life! My pain management N.P wanted to keep a close eye on me when I started taking it, so I went from going every six months to every three months and when my depression got worse every two months...nothing was done, I was on 600 mg. a day, why didn't she try to lower my dose? I complained about the swelling and she said she didn't have any other patients complain, I was taking lyrica for the pain in my hands and the whole time it was making them worse! There were many time I would be driving and make a turn and not know where I was...one day I couldn't remember my address, I couldn't remember conversations I had with my boys, I had no brain! When I came off lyrica and I did it slowly...it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Hot, cold, night sweats, nauseous...I was at the grocery store and literally felt like a monster coming out of me, thank god I am off lyrica! My lawyer is checking on a class action lawsuit, all of us that has had a horrible experience with lyrica, we all need to come together and they need to pay for putting this horrible drug on the market!

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There is really no way a doctor can know ahead of time how any medication can affect anyone.

The problems you experienced aren't common, but they have been known to occur with this medication. It is an anticonvulsant, so it does have an effect on brain chemicals.

I am very sorry about what you went through. However, it really seems that your complaints should be more against the doctor, than anyone else, for not doing something, such as lowering your dosage or trying a different medication.

Unfortunately, in any medical situation, a patient has to be their own best advocate. Doctors often prescribe medications according to their experience with how well something has worked for other patients and, when something goes wrong, they are often reluctant to attribute it to the medication.

Are you still seeing the same doctor?

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I was on lyrica for chronic pain for a short period of time in 2006 or 2007. I do not remember when exactly, but I never noticed any side effects but others did. I had memory loss, staggering gait, grabbled speech and I would fall a lot and could not get up. Idid not even remember falling. I was accussed of being drunk. That is how lyrica affects me. I believe it contributed to my losing my job as a respiratory therapist @ the hospital t was working at. They even did a alcohol blood test on me which came back negative. I got off it immediately and was penalized for that. I was put on probation, but that was just for show. Afew months later I was given the choice, resign or be fired. I resigned. Now ijust tell everyone I am allergic to it. It is a dangerous drug.

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I lost my memory and eventually my job of 29 years. I had side effects they did not even list. I fell down a lot and could not get up and I do not even rember falling. My family told me.

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I tried to commit suicide the first couple of months on lyrica. You can follow my story at twitter @litentruls

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Three months after starting Lyrica for fibromyalgia I developed severe colon pain. A ct scan showed diverticulosis and the doctors assumed I had inflamation due to diverticulits. After 3 years of constant colon pain I went slowly off the Lyrica suspecting that the drug may be the reason. My fibromyalgia came back full force but my colon healed and I'd like to know if anyone else had/has this side effect.

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Five years ago I was given Lyrica to help stop severe back pain. I took it as presribed starting out at two 75mg per day and working up to 300 mg over two weeks. By my third week I began having extremely severe pain just below my sternum and also through to my back. I was nauseated and any food I ate was coming back up. I called my doctor who prescribed this medication. I got his nurse and explained what was going on. When she called me back she stated she spoke to the doctor and thar this was not a side effect. I told her that the paperwork I got from my pharmacist when I picked up my prescription stated should you have severe abdominal pain call your doctor immediately. The nurse went back to the doctor and told him. He told her he hadn't read that and that I should wean off the Lyrica. The pain was so severe I thought I was having a heart attack and had gone to my personal dr. who did an EKG which came out okay. What happened was that the valve leading from my stomach to the intestine had become so irritated and inflamed that it totally was blocked. It took approximately a year for the pain to totally subside, and a sidebar to that I also have residual heartburn ( never had before and now on meds for). On occasion I will have a flare up and severe pain of the previous magnitude and will last for two to five days. I stll worry because the pain is so severe and so strong that it radiates into my back and shoulders. Hope this helps.

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If you start a class action suit do not forget me. I am behind you 100%. I wish you luck.

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Sorry, just found my old presription for the Lyrica. It was 2-75 mg per day working up to 300mg 3 times per day over a two week period leveling off at the 300 mg three times per day. When I stopped iwent cold turkey against medical advice due to the nausea, pain, and inability to keep food down.

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@Sue--I had the same exact side effect of colon pain while taking Lyrica. I was taking it for several years for leg pain related to my MS, and it turned out to be substituting one pain for another. I had never previously had any colon/rectal pain before taking Lyrica, and it gradually went away after completely stopping Lyrica. My doctor put me on Lyrica again at a later date, and the colon pain returned so I stopped taking it and the pain gradually went away. It is a very unpleasant symptom, enough to make Lyrica not worth taking for me.

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Yes , Lyrica is dangerous. Within 6 months I started to feel as if I am losing memory.I myself decided to reduce dosage by 50% and switch over to Indian system of medicine , Yoga with focus on Physiotherapy for unbearable pain in my right thigh , leg after heart attack .
I appeal all this molecule users (pregablin ) to reduce dosage by 1/2 , Pray , do YOGA , and Meditate

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You are the only one who seems to have a lawyer "looking into this". Make sure he knows about the side effects not reported by Lyrica that many of us still suffer from. Show him this blog.

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I was prescibed Lyrica for neuropathic pain, 75 mg sid. It was effective and I took it daily for 6 mo to 1 year. Over the same period I developed tingling in my right hand and weakness of my thumb, but I didn't connect it with Lyrica. I could not undo buttons, use a can opener etc. After reading the side effect profile of Lyrica I decided to come off Lyrica a couple of weeks ago. My hand is slowly improving. However I clearly have thenar muscle atophy and must do exercises to restrengthen the thumb muscles. I am now very suspicious that Lyrica was responsible. I have never had muscle or peripheral nerve problems before. The time-course approximation of my Lyrica consumption and the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are extraordinary. I cannot account otherwise for my carpal tunnel syndrome. I hope it is fully reversible!

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The only people that make money from a class action suit are the lawyers. Go for it on your own and at least you could get 2/3 of the reward!!

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I hope your lawyer has seen and read all allthe blogs here about lyrica. I do not know how he could contact any of us because you cannot post you email address here.

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I do not know if this will get through or not about lyrica. Call {edited for privacy}

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If you cannot reach me about anything concerning lyrica I am on fb in pennsylvania.

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Hi everyone,
Thank you for blogging your experiences. Now I know I'm not completely crazy.

I switched from Gabapentin to Lyrica (150mg tid) many months ago to better control neuropathy pain in my feet and Fibromyalgia. At first it seemed like a gift from God; my pain subsided immensely.

I look back and I wasn't attributing the developing side effects to Lyrica. I started gaining weight because of constant hunger. If I didn't eat often, I started feeling nauseous. I've gained 20# in a short time. Not good.

The biggest problems I have with Lyrica are plumping up, memory loss, being horribly tired most of the time, and a plummetting mood. My mood has been down for months but I just thought it was part of my Bipolar Disorder, even though the Bipolar has been stable for years. I've had problems with my gait and laughed at myself when bumping into walls. My cat has learned to stay clear of me! I KNOW it's from Lyrica. I've had some blurred vision.

Due to the memory loss, I feel like an idiot because I can't hold my end of a good conversation. So I've given up any social life. I can't remember what I've read, so I've given up reading the newspaper or a book. I lose things, forget where I've going when driving, etc.......you all know. Dawn's comment about forgetting her address and having "no brain" struck home. Sometimes I'll be in a shop, pull out my wallet to pay, and can't remember how to write a check!

I tried to go down on my Lyrica dose twice (from 150mg tid to 125mg tid, but I couldn't handle the rebound effects. My pain came back in full force. Both times I returned to the upper dose and the pain subsided.
I worried about my memory loss but didn't say anything to anyone until my social worker said she noticed my memory problems. Yikes!

It took me pushing things along, but my doctor agreed to send me to a neurologist. The neurologist ran his memory tests and questions and said he was pretty sure I didn't have dementia. Hurrah! That left my problems most likely due to sleep problems or meds. We decided to rule out sleep first. A sleep study revealed Sleep Apnea. OK, so after some to-do, I'll be able to sleep well. That may improve many things, e.g. memory.

Next, we'll work on meds. I hate to think of the pain and rebound effects I would have going off of Lyrica, but it's needed. The next question: What else is out there for my pain management? For that matter, for ALL of my health-managed medications. I'd love to hurl all of my meds into a dumpster and start over. But then I'd probably have one big seizure and end up brain dead, so "don't try this at home."

I'd love to hear if anyone has gone through a med-wash to clear the body of all meds (usually to begin anew.) I'm open to all holistic health paths. Please let me know what you think. And goodluck to all of you.

By-the-way, I don't think it is worth harassing the drug company: 1) it's a huge waste of time and money, 2) many patients with Fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathies have had great, life-altering experiences with Lyrica, and 3) we still have to find alternatives to Lyrica, perhaps a better way to spend time and resources.

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Since first writing to you, the neurologist sent me to have a Sleep Study. Guess what? I have severe sleep apnea, which probably has caused my memory problems and lethargy. I am now using a CPAP machine at night.

My point: There are so many variables when using medications as well as everything else going on in my body. Lyrica may not be causing any of my problems. I'll keep in tough.

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As difficult as it may be to prove the harm that Lyrica has caused, I know without a doubt that it has brought me many problems much worse than the initial reason for taking it.
It did help with the pain I was suffering for a time, however this didn't last and the issues that have come from the use of it have put me through a hell I surely didn't expect. Even coming off of this poison is horrendous. I have minimized much of it in my mind, but am now coming to a clear realization about the damage this drug has caused mentally, emotionally and physically. It's near impossible to be clear about much of anything while on this, but having cut down to less than half of the 450mg dosage I was prescribed, I'm slowly getting some mental capabilities back.
This drug may not be detrimental to all who take it, and may help some, but that doesn't take away the multitude of issues, some even life threatening that many of us have encountered. People have the right to know what they may face if they choose to take it.
One small example... I used to write grants for a living, and could have written this in no time at all, it has taken me three times as long to put my thoughts together, be able to put them into words and type them out.
I strongly feel that those of us who have been harmed DO need to come together and take action, not only for ourselves, but for others who may be affected in the future.
Anyone interested in joining me, please let me know. I believe we can all come together possibly thru social media and get this ball rolling.
Blessings and better tomorrows!

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Bobbie, I'm down for joining your group. Lyrica has been a nightmare for me and I have only taken on and off for 2 weeks. My eyeballs feel swollen and gritty and I have a huge headache at all times. I want to get off of it, but i'm terrified of the withdrawals.

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Re: Mary (# 7)

Don't forget me either! It's been a year and a half fighting these long term issues caused from taking Lyrica.

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I have been on it for years yes it helps nerve pain but I have totally lost my brain. Totally. I can’t remember my short term memory is gone totally. I am 58 years old but feel like I am 108 years old. I feel totally useless I felt like I needed to be put in nursing home. Makes my sisters worried and me too

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Not only did I experience all of what most of you have documented about Lyrica but my six years on that damn drug has also left me with what appears to be permanent memory issues. I can't even remember a three digit lock combination. It took me at least twenty times using it to remember a four digit door entry combination and I was a trial lawyer for God's sake. My mind was razor sharp. There were very few people who could match me in a battle of wits. I vaguely also now remember also having had a feeling of a Lyrica fog so to speak where in my case it was like wearing a helmet on my head at all times until I was finally weaned off it and then like magic this "feeling" on my head was gone and so were most of the greatest moments of depression I had been having. Don't get me wrong, having CRPS is no walk in the park but now having lost 65 pounds and getting off all meds besides Advil I feel better than I have in many years. As for your lawyer "looking for class actions" tell him to contact me about it. I don't know why there has to be an existing class action in order for us to have cases to bring to light against Pfzer. Why can't we individually sue these bastards?

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Re: Jill (# 309)

When I told my doc that lyrica was causing my memory loss, babbling when talking and blackouts he told me I was a smart lady. No conversation at all.

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Re: Cheryl (# 313)

I was prescribed Lyrica (off-label use) for Fibromyalgia 2011. Well, my pain was lessened, but the side effects were my hair was falling out in clumps, my teeth were all loose. I just pureed my food do I would need to chew anything. My feet swelled, and at the time I was employed and a 4th year college student with just 3 class to go, then I took Lyrica and no more short term memory! I realized within a month that this wasn't a side effect, and that my brain has been permanently changed. I couldn't to the college level work and was fired for my job shortly thereafter. My hair and teeth are healthy again, but I've spent thousands on functional medicine doctor's because medications from the doctor just dont work. I have also developed IBS. Even the nerves in my bowels are shot!

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Re: Jill (# 312)

I was on lyrica for 5 years my short term memory is gone forever. I would say get off that junk asap

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Re: Kathy C (# 310)

I'm so sorry Kathy C. I can relate. I have been on Lyrica over 4 years, almost 5. I have been tapering off for 8 months of hell. I've been to ER and Urgent Care 3x, breathing problems, chest pains, terrible headaches and migraines, nausea and horrible pain everywhere. Plus I cannot remember anything anymore and I have tinnitus and horrid ear pain. I cannot wait to be done and start healing. I hope I will heal.

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Thank you for your share. I was on Lyrica for approximate two years. I had cervical spine surgery. I try to get off of Lyrica cold turkey. That was a bad mistake. With drawls are worse than my original pain. I am now hav thank you for your share. I was on Lyrica for approximate two years. I had cervical spine surgery. I try to get off of Lyrica cold turkey. That was a bad mistake. With drawls are worse than my original pain. Now I am having trouble with my vision. My vision is blurred. I finally my self off of it gradually.I have been dealing with depression anxiety. This drug should’ve never been on the market. Whoever designed this drug and deemed it to be safe for human consumption should be hauled off and to court and sued. This drug is ruining peoples lives. I went to the VA to the ophthalmologist today to get my vision checked. Whoever is taking his drug make sure you have documentation of the damages. I’m sure that they’ll be a class action lawsuit. Let’s all stay strong and keep in touch. Don’t let big Pharma get away with this.

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Re: Jill (# 309)

Im In my 7th month of anxiety, depression and panic. Under the care of a therapist and medication nurse. I’m finally off Lyrica which took me a long time to come off of. I never feel like me, never know how I’ll feel tomorrow. I take it day by day, but when depression hits I want to end my life. I’ve never ever thought of suicide.

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Re: Kathy C (# 308)

Basically you have to go after the doctor who prescribed it to you. And good luck. We are lucky if we can get off of this poison with minimal long term damage and be thankful for that. :(. Big Pharma and the government are standing together. Pharma drugs are no better than street drugs.

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