The LYRICA (pregabalin) Mega Thread

[danktropolis]

i am rx'd 600mg lyrica a day, and have never really felt anything taking that dose (althought ive been prescribed it for awhile). does that mean i have to double the dose or something to feel any of the effects you are all describing?

 

[pharmakos]

i also saw this on wikipedia (it's a start). why would a drug that has the same, or a very similar mechanism of action with increased potency cause LESS side effects. that is baffling. wouldn't the side effect profile increase linearly with the intended effects?

gabapentin and pregabalin both produce side-effects in humans, of course.

well, pregabalin is more specific to the intended effect and more potent. consequently, less of the drug is able to contribute to the mechanisms that cause side effects.

^^ not put 100% eloquently but i think you get the idea.

 

[volp]

i also saw this on wikipedia (it's a start). why would a drug that has the same, or a very similar mechanism of action with increased potency cause LESS side effects. that is baffling. wouldn't the side effect profile increase linearly with the intended effects?

I call bs on it. I got some strong side effects from lyrica and noticed no side effects from gabapentin.

 

[Bupe]

At 1800-2400mg plus some alcohol it's a lot of fun. If you close your eyes and let go you feel like you are sort of removed from your body floating and rocking back/forward. I don't know how dangerous it is but it works,

 

[Bupe]

Apart from that, the major NO NO with pregabalin/lyrica is to mix it with alcohol. I took my last pregab about 3 hours before I met a friend for a few drinks (draft guinness). After two pints, (I was mellow and didn't need to drink much) he started hurrying along, and struggled to keep up. After about 8 pints (I think), he left to catch a train. I remember trying to buy another pint, and being kicked out of the pub because I was shooting from one side of the bar to the other with speed wobbles and knocking people flying.

I left bar, and sat down on a park bench for a bit, until my legs started to cooperate with me! Woke up about 4am on the same bench, sitting against my back pack! Staggered a bit to the train station, and went home.

DO NOT MIX LYRICA/PREGABALIN WITH ALCOHOL !!!!!!!!!

\
Don't do any drugs/mixtures in public when you aren't experienced with them. Lyrica and alcohol is great .

 

[Papaverace]

concentrating has become more difficult for me , my mind want to go all kinds of directions.
But my Focus seems to imp somewhat.
biggest downside for me is that my short time memory is a mess on lyrica.

You can say that again! Lyrica - the most ghastly crap I ever used (have been a compulsive shooting star for almost 40 years) ruined my health, my brain and my life. Only in 3.5 years. It's now almost 2 years since I threw out the miserable shit. Months of depression and confusion followed my W.D., I thought that I'd ruined my memory for ever. It came back in the end though.

 

[Vaya]

i also saw this on wikipedia (it's a start). why would a drug that has the same, or a very similar mechanism of action with increased potency cause LESS side effects. that is baffling. wouldn't the side effect profile increase linearly with the intended effects?

The explanation can sort of be thought of as analogous to mescaline vs. LSD; both are 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonists, but with LSD being something like 30,000 times more potent (don't quote me on that exact figure, though), there is less chance of the vomiting, cramps and nausea that are generally associated with mescaline. Of course, much of the nasty side effects of mescaline are the result of the many other active alkaloids in peyote and other mescaline-containing cacti, but even pure, isolated mescaline has a larger side effect profile than does LSD. The less one needs to ingest, the less one's body is likely to protest, IME.

Or at least, that's my interpretation.

~ vaya

 

[homeydontplaythat]

hey, i am really interested in trying this stuff. i have a pcp visit on the 1st and have medicaire so the script cost wont be an issue. i have pretty significant issues with anxiety. i take lexapro for it and it does help, though still i often just dont feel right. a benzo ALWAYS help, even just 1mg of alprazolam makes me feels soooo much more comfortable in my skin. the problem is that i end up taking more benzos than im supposed to and essentially abuse them. i cant seem to help it.

it sounds promising that lyrica is schedule V. to me, that means that it DOES do something but isnt as abusable as valium or such. i would really like to give this a shot.

anyone that takes it for anxiety, how does it compare to benzos? i dont have any nerve pain, just anxiety.

 

[Supeudol]

Well I took 825mg Lyrica total today and I am having some tachycardia around 99BPM - 105 BPM. Blood Pressure is lower than usual about 111/82 - so thats okay.

I am just worried about the tachycardia - am I in danger?

 

[homeydontplaythat]

ive heard one report about IVing this. im a needle freak, and since its a scheduled drug i may try it. i have a feeling it would just allow less to be used to acheive the same effect. doubt any real high will come from it. alas, i will try it...unless the solution isnt clear enough to see the numbers on the other side of the barrel.

anyone shot pregabalin?

 

[Vaya]

Well I took 825mg Lyrica total today and I am having some tachycardia around 99BPM - 105 BPM. Blood Pressure is lower than usual about 111/82 - so thats okay.

I am just worried about the tachycardia - am I in danger?

I don't think you should worry about it - I've experienced this with higher doses of Lyrica. Although I won't repeat these higher doses (I really only need 200-250mg to 'get off'), on page three of this megathread I believe it is stated that there is no known LD50 for pregabalin, and a Google search for 'pregabalin + LD50 turned up nothing initially useful for me. Just don't hit those high notes on pregabalin again and you should be fine

anyone that takes it for anxiety, how does it compare to benzos?

Dude (or dudette), it's INCREDIBLE. I've been prescribed various benzos continually for nine years now. NINE years. And ever since I've been on Lyrica, IF I take a benzo each day, it's down to only 1mg of xanax or 30mg of Restoril. It's amazing because, as you said, a benzo always helps but I can't help but semi-abuse the medication because it truly feels like a band-aid solution (which it is), whilst Lyrica just lays the psychological foundation for a truly open, honest and anxiety-free day for me. It's wonderful.... just wonderful for GAD IME. Too bad I live in the states, b/c my insurance denied my claim for it and then they denied my appeal, too - so it costs me around 250 dollars a month for my script of 100mg 2x/day. But I pay it, because it is so damned worth it.

It seems I've been on so many medications in my life (you wouldn't believe me if I listed them all), but this is the one and only one that positively contributes to my ADD, social/generalized anxiety, insomnia, irritability AND depression all at once! The only side effects I experience are constipation and ataxia (problems balancing) sometimes. Rating: A+++!

~ vaya

 

[homeydontplaythat]

why is lyrica scheduled and neurontin is not. its just an evergreened version of the former, right? i guess im trying to figure out if lyrica is any different than neurontin. besides cost that is.

 

[homeydontplaythat]

oh, and i know it's supposed to be an actually legit potentiator of opiates. i wonder if this would help me with my suboxone. seems like the more i research it i simply cannot give it a try. jesus, it would be sooooooo nice to find something that helps with my anxiety that doesnt turn me into a retard.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

why is lyrica scheduled and neurontin is not. its just an evergreened version of the former, right? I guess im trying to figure out if lyrica is any different than neurontin. besides cost that is.

From my understanding, the DEA was starting to become aware of gabapentin abuse and it was on their 'chemicals of concerns' list around when Lyrica was being developed and a deal was made with Pfizer. Since most of the sales for that type of drug would be shifted to pregabalin, they agreed to schedule pregabalin and leave gabapentin be.

I'm not sure of the exact veracity of this, but I'm sure its along these lines anyway.

You are correct though, pharmacologically speaking, they are extremely similar. Lyrica is certainly more potent mg:mg but otherwise they are essentially the same... Same effects, same indications, same abuse potential.

 

[Madmike]

I take it this way


1. day , 0 mg
2. day , 1200 mg
3. day , 0 mg
4. day, 1200 mg
and so on.

This way my tolerance doesn't raise too much and I get massive euphoria every time I take the high dose. The bad side is that I suffer some withdrawals on the days I don't take it. It really can feel like a bad flu, weakness is terrible and it is cold. But the euphoria is worth it so I take it this way, I don't know how long though. It does some damage to my psyche I guess.

It is currently Friday night and I am high on 1200 mg Lyrica. I feel so fucking nice euphoria that flows all over my body. And my mind is on peace. I am dancing and getting CEVs. Dancing feels wonderful. I listen to electronic music and now I have HARDSTYLE playing. It is amazing how one can nod on Lyrica and also get so energetic! This is worth it IMO!

 

[homeydontplaythat]

i am definetly going to ask my pcp to script this when i see him in a week. ive been praying for something that helps my anxiety as well as a benzo without all the bullshit that comes with it. i think i may jizz my pants if something practically non scheduled works. and the buzz i hear of would be fucking great too.

i just may discontinue my lexapro and replace it with this.

here is hoping for the best.

 

[Lazyscience]

in my experience and opinion, this is basically just as addictive and abusable as any of the benzos out there. you get into big trouble if you abuse this drug as tolerance builds up fast. also, there are a lot of side effects. the one that bothers me most is that it turns you into a zombified moron.

 

[homeydontplaythat]

well, i wouldnt actually be trying to get high off it. i would like to use it at theraputic doses. however, if it does get you high, i would have a hard time not venturing there. i plan to take 600mg every other day as to not raise my tolerance incredibly.

very possibly i will take it every other day or just treat it as a breakthrough med like xanax when things get worse than usual. otherwise the lexapro does keep me from freaking out on a daily basis. it just seems it wouldnt hurt to add this to my arsenal.

its practically non scheduled. it seems to be the tramadol of gabanergics. arguably, fucking ultram isnt much more than a nuisance in the scheme of opiates when it comes to wd and addiction. compared to xanax this stuff simply has to be less addictive/abusable. otherwise they would have pushed for a c-IV scheduling. and tramadol is still unscheduled and i think most would agree it should be c-V.

another thing to look it is neurontin. to say this stuff is addictive would be to say neurontin is as well. ive taken neurontin and it certainly didnt do anything. with meds that get you high you usually can take them once and you FEEL it. im just babbling though. im also playing devils advocate as to elicit responses and have my questions(they may not be posed as much) answered by non biased users instead of brainwashed doctors and cash driven pharm cos.

 

[homeydontplaythat]

gah, i have to have my widsom teeth out and im on suboxone this is going to fucking SUCK balls. i was hoping to have this stuff in time for the procedure. crap. the last time i was excited about a drug that would help my anxiety was phenazepam. WHAT A NIGHTMARE. holy fuck that shit is horrible. this sounds much more tame. im very excited about trying it. i should probably not get my hopes up, but ive heard so many fantastic reviews from people citing it helps with anxiety MORE than a benzo without the shittiness that comes with the turf.

 

[homeydontplaythat]

is this stuff covered by medicaid for ny? my suboxone is, but this stuff is pretty new.