Is lyrica addictive/cause withdrawal?

[psytaco]

I'm currently taking 2x 150mg a day (300mg a day all up) for nerve pain in leg due to a herniated disk in my back. I'm also taking codeine and 10-20mg oxycodone a day. I'm dependent on the opiates unfortunately.

Although the opiate addiction bothers me and I need to keep on top of dosing unless I get withdrawal, at least with it, I know what to expect.

I am worried about the lyrica though. I have read conflicting reports on bluelight and elsewhere about the addictive nature of the drug. I have been on it for about a month and was originally on 150mg a day and have been on 300mg a day for about a bit over a week. I haven't abused it and don't feel any compulsion to overuse it. It seems to be helping my anxiety so I haven't really used my valium script for a few weeks.

I was wondering if lyrica at these dosages is likely to cause withdrawal? If so, My doctor has said no, as has the pharmacist. Both believe it to be none addictive. I have been through benzo withdrawal twice and know it is hell on earth.

The people on bluelight citing withdrawal often seem to be taking huge dosages of over a gram a day or are using in conjunction with benzos or GHB/GBL. Do you think withdrawal could be due to their high dosages?

 

[dopamimetic]

Lyrica / Pregabalin causes tolerance and withdrawal, yes, but it's much better manageable in comparison to opioids or benzodiazepines in that one just needs to slowly taper down with the dosage over a week or so. The reports vary, and I'm not completely sure yet (but certainly curious about) but I think withdrawal happens mostly when people go cold turkey or too fast too low. I've been prescribed it for anxiety at 600mg/d - know of dosages up to 800mg/d - and while it wasn't the magical pill as advertised or as the acute intoxication promised, the withdrawal after a couple of months on that dosage was really manageable with gradual tapering. Think I've dosed off in less than 2 weeks, and overall treatment duration has been at least 4 months and nothing serious besides some restlessness. Especially no anxiety attacks which I'm very glad they didn't occur, as opioids cause horrible anxiety at very low dosages when they wear off for me.

Probably it's mainly about Ca ion influx which causes over-excitability. Pregabalin is a Ca channel (alpha-2-delta sub unit) blocker. Downstream this could mean less glutamate / NMDA receptor activity, and the opposite when withdrawing too quickly.