Lyrica Is Dangerous / Class Action Suit Anyone? (Page 16)
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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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18

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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17

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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16

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

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15

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

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14

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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13

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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12

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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11

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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10

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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9

@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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8

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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7

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

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6

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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5

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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4

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

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3

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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2

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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1

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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