Gabapentinoids The Lyrica (Pregabalin) Mega Thread v 2.0

[Whipped Dream]

Question for those of you who use Lyrica for mostly medicinal reasons:

I was given Lyrica recently for anxiety (which it works very well for), but I from time to time will take more than the recommended dose for a good time.

I understand that prolonged high-dose recreational use will eventually terminate in extremely high tolerance as well as it not working anymore (I just got through reading all 14 pages). But what about daily low-dose usage for legitimate reasons? Does daily low-dose for maintenance ALSO terminate in high tolerance and it not working anymore?

 

[ControlDenied]

It still works for me after almost 6 weeks on it. although i havent taken it every single day -- days off here and there. i think tolerance and withdrawal, as with any drug, is dependent on the user. i tend not to experience either with any drug very easily, probably due to a strong immune system.

 

[Whipped Dream]

^^^ Good to hear. I recognize the recreational value of this drug, but using it as intended for anxiety has been a godsend. I'm currently taking around 200mg about 3-4 times a week. My 'recreational' dose is around 300 - 400mg, and I rarely do that.

 

[ControlDenied]

Ive been doing the same recreational dose as you, a little too often. but i am getting a refill of my clonazepam in less than 2 weeks so its not too bad. i also like to have days here and there not on any psychoactive drugs whatsoever.

for sure, lyrica can be amazing. i have experienced paradoxical irritability and edginess from it sometimes but usually it results in a mild but very helpful feeling of contentment and calmth and analgesia,without the addictive strength of opiates or benzos

the right dose can result in some pretty high level euphoria of course. but it doesnt seem to be any more addictive than other soft drugs like for example pot.

all this said, though, i am guessing it does result in tolerance sooner or later, like any mentally active drugs. it just might take longer to develop in some people. [from what ive read, with lyrica this ranges from 2 weeks to 2 years. so that's pretty hopeful data to me ]

 

[Cadeblue]

I have been on Lyrica for several years and one time I ran out early and the withdrawals are horrific! It's pretty much just like any opiate w/d's, but it lasted quite a few days and nothing seemed to help. I even had some hydrocodone at the time & that didn't even help!

 

[scantraxx]

Starting this drug soon, I am interested in it's anxiety and and sleep architecture benefits, I have been using clonazepam for the last 6 months, although I have only started using it daily over the past month, I tried going three days without it and I felt withdrawals. I was using alcohol and antihistamines to get to sleep, wasn't working well and gave in and had to have some clonazepam, I felt it kick in and just felt 'normal' so I guess that is withdrawals, which is scary, I felt very dull and there was a feeling I couldn't quite put my finger on, in my head, sort of like I was going to pass out or something, maybe panic attack feeling but not quite the same feeling, not sure, I'll assume thats withdrawal because I felt like shit, worse than a hangover. I'm starting Lyrica for other reasons but I'm hoping that if this has a benefit on my sleep in general (by helping the insomnia and stage 3 & 4 sleep cycles) I should be able to get a sleep routine down and be able to tackle my anxiety better. I don't want to be on these drugs forever, or any for that matter.

I'm being prescribed 25mg, I don't want to use this daily, so I need to approach this properly, I do not care about the recreational potential so I won't be looking at a dose that is going to get me high. I need and opinion on how many days I should use this, I'm thinking 3-4 days a week before bed and then tapering the amount of days until I completely stop this drug, I know it sounds weird but I would like to achieve getting over clonzepam withdrawal while helping my sleep and in the end having either drug as something for emergencies. I fucked around with the clonazepam in the beginning because I wanted to get high, I'm not going to make the same mistake with this drug. So yeah any opinions are appreciated, I need to tackle this, lifes getting far too hard, I don't want a drug addiction, which it feels like Is just starting.

 

[ControlDenied]

wow only 25 mg a day? and i thought my daily dose of 100 mg was small. from what ive read to get properly addicted to lyrica a daily dose of over 300 mg for more than 3 months is needed [same as opiates and benzos really -- a medium or high dose for longer than 3 months, at first anyway]

as long as you take breaks at least every 3 weeks or so you shouldnt get physically hooked. lyrica is fairly mentally addictive but no more than weed, if that

edit: I'm running out well before my refill, and that's because I take more than prescribed sometimes in order to get mildly "high". Also, if I can't sleep, after tossing and turning for a couple hours I might take a few Lyrica, which knocks me out cold once it kicks in and gives me a deep and pleasurable sleep, without affecting sleep architecture, apparently [unlike benzos don't even help that much for sleep except in high doses, or maybe xanax or temazepam, and deprive you of any dreams and often knock you out for at least 8-10 hours].

I might add that Remeron [mirtazapine], is the most powerful sleep aid I've ever taken - I've fallen asleep sitting down 20 minutes after taking it, without being tired beforehand, it just knocks you out right when it kicks in, basically [it's a struggle to even brush your teeth if you haven't before it kicks in] and FORCES you to sleep for at least 11 hours, but more like 12-14 usually. Basically, WAY TOO powerful a sleep aid!

 

[CoReCoNTAX]

can recreational use of pregabalin make you fat? (for example taking 10 grams in 2months and taking a gram each time you use)

 

[glorpglorp]

so I took like 900 mg over a five hour span. should I have taken it all at once? I definitely feel a giddy feeling but nothing superlative.

 

[CoReCoNTAX]

I find its better to take it all at once, but as long as you are used to it, otherwise work up gradually.

 

[Vaya]

But what about daily low-dose usage for legitimate reasons? Does daily low-dose for maintenance ALSO terminate in high tolerance and it not working anymore?

Absolutely. Give it 6-8 weeks. I'm in the same boat; prescribed for anxiety, felt that it helped me in a diverse array of areas in my life (depression, motivation, anxiety, interpersonal interaction, positivity, minor pain relief), and then *poof* all of a sudden the negatives vastly outweighed the positives! What happened?? Why did this miracle drug turn its back on me? God only knows, but I have learned to take my 450mg/day only once every other day and it prevents my body from rejecting the pregabalin... or vice versa. I realize you're likely on a lower dose, but I was on 75mg/day when the "magic was lost"...

Hope it doesnt happen to you, man. If it does, PM me and I'll outline exactly how I worked around the problem to gain benefit again from this substance.

~ vaya

 

[Vaya]

I find its better to take it all at once, but as long as you are used to it, otherwise work up gradually.

Totally agree; re-dosing on Lyrica is next to pointless. It may extend the experience (and of this I am still dubious...) but it definitely does not heighten the experience.

~ vaya

 

[raider69]

I started taking 100 mg a day 2 years ago and am up to 1000 a day now...it sucks! I can't get off this shit..When I stop i get sick as hell and anxiety attacks out the ass..I am a recovering alcoholic and really don't wanna be having to take this shit but I can't take two weeks off work to be sick...Help!

 

[K3nnyb]

I just got prescribed 60 norco , 60 50mg lyrica and 60 soma for my shingles. What's the best way to take these

And is it effective to snort lyrica?

 

[HRopiate]

I am picking up a script today of 300mg caps. I can take about 3000mg neurontin and feel fine. I dosed that last night. Prescribed for pain and to stay away from opiates. Doesn't really help with pain; honestly nor did the opiates. How bad is the cross tolerance to Gabapentin? If I did 3000mg last night. What dose should i start out today for a recreational use? Or is it pointless to try since I have a high tolerance and these drugs are similar? I felt nice on the 3000mg Neurontin. I was thinking 600mg Preggo today? Thoughts?

 

[CoReCoNTAX]

I dont know how neurotin compares to pregabalin in terms of strength? but i usually take 1000mg of pregabalin in one go for recreational use, then few hours later i might have another 300-500mg to top up a little bit. However i have pushed it to around 2000mg before but i find it sometimes give me really uncontrollable and unpleasant twitches which can actually be quite scary.

 

[CoReCoNTAX]

And is it effective to snort lyrica?

it works but its not effective and not worth it at all if you ask me.

 

[HRopiate]

Could one completely quit benzos (klonopin) from using this drug? I just took my recommended daily dose (2X 300 mg) but I took it at once. I am at hour two and the feel is akin to Gabapentin. I can't say it's better or worse yet; seems like the consensus is that it is better. However, it "feels" like I could just not use any klonopin and quit (have been on them for YEARS). I know all about the withdrawal risk of cold turkey of benzos and am very aware of drugs. This is not a benzo and doesn't affect the same receptors but is a GABA drug. So would it be safe to just stop the benzo (currently just taking about 1.5mg of klonopin at night).

 

[dm1987]

if an iv opiate user tried lyrica what would it do for them can lyrica be used in iv form or no? but if the person is trying to get off the opiates would a doctor possibly prescribe this med because they have chronic pain and the fact that coming off of opiates makes them have anixety

 

[Lazyscience]

injecting lyrica would be totally stupid. it would be dangerous and you wouldnt get any benefit over just eating it.