Posted by Abby Cunningham on February 13, 2008, at 17:29:11
In reply to Re: I urge everyone to give LYRICA a try!! » SteelyDan, posted by Phoenix1 on February 11, 2008, at 17:24:53
Phoenix1 and SteelyDan, the message below is of utmost importance! I can testify to the absolutely *horrendous* withdrawal of benzodiazepines (worse by far than heroin w/d)
Anyone considering LYRICA, for your LIFE's SAKE, please think about withdrawal which can make you feel you wish you were dead==experiencing the worst Hell here on earth!!!! Worse than anything you can imagine. IF you should be one of the very few who do not have severe withdrawal (panic/depression/derealization/depersonalization 24/7, then you are very lucky indeed!)
DO NOT take this drug lightly! Any drug which messes with GABA A receptors is a potential horror show. If you don't believe me, well, good luck.
> I don't want to be a party pooper here, but there are a couple people on this board, myself included, that had horrible withdrawal reactions when stopping this drug. Even though I tapered slowly, my withdrawal was extreme, much worse than benzo withdrawal which I've experienced too. I had to use a cross-tapering dose of diazepam to take away the shakes, sweating attacks, nauseousness, and severe agitation and insomnia. This withdrawal syndrome is only published in a couple of papers and doctors don't realize that it exists at all yet.
>
> So I agree that it is a great drug for sleep, anxiety, and even depression, but think about what it may be like for you to stop it before you decide to start it.
>
> I was on very high doses (800-1200mg) and decided to stop because it was making me emotionally numb, somnolent, lazy and I gained tons of weight and had whole body edema. Other than that, it worked great for my anxiety and depression... But as usual YMMV when it comes to the benefits, side effects, and withdrawal.
>
> Again, I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but my experience with this drug wasn't worth the agony of the withdrawal.
>
> Phoenix1
poster:Abby Cunningham
thread:812069
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080207/msgs/812523.html