Misc please I am a bit lost on this forum dont bury my post in lyrica thread <HELP

[katy1954]

,I weaned off of 350mg/day lyrica-for 31/2 years (also a benzo habit for 20yrs 3mgs ativan 10mgs valium) but kept low does gabapentin around like 200mgs a night,still on benzos and my tolerance has goen ou tthe window.
here is the problem,I recently weaned off the gabapentin and sleep is impossible,severe,and I mean severe GI issues.This is commonly heard of in other "lyrica withdrawl" communities.
On halloween I landed in hosptial with pancreattis ,nearly died.I dont drink or do other drugs so I figure it was related to lyrica W/d.
The Gi issues,the bloating and the absolute hell of detox from both lyrica and gabapentin is almost too mch for this old lady.
I took very small amounts of oxycet for awhile,it helped but ultimatley caused issues with my stomache.
I need some serious help here and believe it or not u guys know more about drugs than doctors.
I have a 20yr benzo habit,now a mix of ativan and 10mgs valium.
I gained massive weight on lyrica,but it is nothing compared to the pregnant belly I have now.
I am in some deep sh**t here and could use any guidance.
My idea was to detox from lyrica first then attack benzos,but my tummy is compleltely fried.
and sleep is a nightmare.
i tried upping the benzos to no avail,tried remeron for sleep ,have some backlofen havent tried it also have medical pot and have not tried it.
NOTHING helps my gut and i am not theonly one....thousands struggling with lyrica w/d ,and just hurting.
I realize my benzo use is complicating the w/d but hey will take along time to detox from.
Please,if you have any ideas why my gut is haywire,and an interim drug I would be grateful.
people have siad they feel lyrica has changed their insides in some weird way.I would agree but is it permanent?
cant live likethis.
I have horrifc breathing issues with sleep apnea.so many drugs are off limits.
I even have some morphine at home,small amount.dont wanna go back to gabapentin even in smalll amounts.
have a bupe patch lotza drugs ,terrified to take any of them.
3and 1/2 yrs of lyrica with benzos and here i am with horrific issues.
Please anyone that can give me some ideas -drs say go bk to gabapentin,they dont give a sh*t,but I do.I would be grateful for some response.
This is nothing short of hel,and I can only imagine the benzo withdrawl.
thank you for your response.please,please dont bury my thread in the lyrica thread,someone here must know something as you are all knowledgable about drugs.Drs in my country have no clue about w/d...its hopeless.I am 57yrs olad and feel like i ownt make it thru this,there must be some reason for these gut issues,everyone is having them,and many feel they are permanent.I am in a world of crap and am so determined to stay off the lyrica/gabapentin and then tackle the benzos.Maybe i did it back wards? benzo first then lyrica?but the lyrica was killing me fast-only upside is I feel less depressed and my brainw orks a bit better.I was pretty dumb to take it in the firspalce along w benzos.
anyone ,please chime in.thanks in advance
Katy

 

[Swimmingdancer]

It's kind of hard to read your post because it's long and has no spaces for paragraphs.

When you said "pregnant belly" I assume you just mean it looks like you're pregnant??

What does your Dr say about all this? Maybe you need to find a better Dr? There ARE some great doctors in Canada, they can just sometimes be hard to find.

. . . . . .

EDIT: I will try to summarize your post, tell me if this is correct:

You were taking 350mg of pregabalin (Lyrica) for 3 and 1/2 yrs, which you have now weaned completely off of, but you still were taking 200mg of gabapentin at night, until you recently stopped the gabapentin as well. You take a lot of benzos, currently 10mg diazepam (Valium) per day + 3mg lorazepam (Ativan), and have been taking benzos for 20 yrs. You are hoping to taper off the benzos too but with your withdrawals/health at this point it is too difficult.

You are having symptoms like insomnia, GI issues, sleep apnea, and recently had pancreatitis.

You were taking some Oxycet (oxycodone + acetominophen but stopped it due to stomach upset.

You are wondering what you can do/take to help with your situation.

Is all that right? Once you tell me if I understood correctly I can give some better advice.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Heya, read trough your post and I'm sorry for all you're going through. It sounds like an absolute nightmare, but honestly, things will get better through time and patience.

As for your issues I have weaned off lyrica myself from a 600mg day habit for a year but never suffered any of those problems. It sounds like you're in a few problems, perhaps from the lyrica, but maybe something else. I think you should see another doctor and have them run full tests regarding blood, x rays, MRI's etc. to check if it may be another issue that is unrelated to the lyrica.

Keep up the determination to stay off these nasty drugs. They are awful for your health in long term usage. You're doing well, don't give into taking them.

However like I said, I seriously think you should see either another doctor or have yours explain exactly why what is going on with your body is happening for what reason.

 

[katy1954]

Yes I have stopped the gabapentin dec27 ,2012 and now am over 30days of no gabapentin,I feel as thouhg i am in a benzo withdrawl yet i am still on 4 mgs ativan,
-i have anxiety severe
-lost 30lbs in a month
-fell very depressed especially in the am and the ativan isnt really covering the anxiety
-will this end?
-after 3yrs of lyrica -and replacing it for just 1-300 mgs gabapentin am i now in full lyrica withdrawl?
-all my swelling is gone,but i feel horrible -no appetite,very depressed
-i cant go back to the gabapentin any ideas would be appreciated
thank you

 

[katy1954]

Please answer ,I am in trouble

,I weaned off of 350mg/day lyrica-for 31/2 years (also a benzo habit for 20yrs 3mgs ativan 10mgs valium)in sept 2012 but kept low does gabapentin in me like 200 or max 300mgs a night,still on benzos and my tolerance has goen ou tthe window.
here is the problem,I recently "just stopped the gabapentin" on dec27,2012the gabapentin and sleep is impossible,I had gi issues but nowThe GI issues have settled .I am left with the worst anxiety,no appetite ,aragopobia and troubled sleep.
On halloween I landed in hosptial with pancreattis ,nearly died.I dont drink or do other drugs so I figure it was related to lyrica W/d.
The Gi issues,the anxiety and the absolute hell of detox from both lyrica and gabapentin is almost too mch for this old lady.And it has been 30 days !does this end?

I need some serious help here and believe it or not u guys know more about drugs than doctors.
I have a 20yr benzo habit,now a mix of ativan and 10mgs valium.
I am in some deep sh**t here and could use any guidance.
My idea was to detox from lyrica first then attack benzos,but my anxiety is out of this world and i am so depressed.
i tried upping the benzos to no avail, I realize my benzo use is complicating the w/d but hey will take along time to detox from.
Please,if you have any ideas why my body has gone haywirewould be grateful.I have lost 30pounds in 30 days ,I wake up wretching.
people have siad they feel lyrica has changed their insides in some weird way.I would agree but is it permanent?
cant live likethis.
I have horrifc breathing issues with sleep apnea.so many drugs are off limits.
.Its been 30 days and i have gabapentin BUT I WONT TAKE IT,I figure the wd is 30days now so I would have to start over.
3and 1/2 yrs of lyrica with benzos and here i am with horrific issues.
Please anyone that can give me some ideas -one dr says say go bk to gabapentin and w/d agian that would mean more pain wouldnt it?,they dont give a sh*t,but I do.I would be grateful for some response.
This is nothing short of hell,and I can only imagine the benzo withdrawl.
thank you for your response.please,please dont bury my thread in the lyrica thread,someone here must know something as you are all knowledgable about drugs.Drs in my country have no clue about w/d...its hopeless.I am 57yrs old and feel like i ownt make it thru this,there must be some reason for these issues,did I quit the gabapentin too suddenly? it houhgt i was a low dose?.I am in a world of crap and am so determined to stay off the lyrica/gabapentin and then tackle the benzos.Maybe i did it back wards? benzo first then lyrica?but the lyrica was killing me fast-I am getting really depressed.I was pretty dumb to take it in the firstplace along w benzos.
anyone ,please chime in.thanks in advance
Katy

 

[WMCWMC]

Fuck man, your post scares the shit out of me.

I'm on 50mg a day of Valium for generalized anxiety. Your complete lack of simple punctuation and all around communication blows my mind.

Fuck man, seriously. Your post is making me question my prescription entirely. Please tell me your IQ was at this level before you started on benzos. I'm not trying to be mean, Im seriously concerned. I didn't know one could survive with the communication skills you have.

 

[Supeudol]

,I weaned off of 350mg/day lyrica-for 31/2 years (also a benzo habit for 20yrs 3mgs ativan 10mgs valium)in sept 2012 but kept low does gabapentin in me like 200 or max 300mgs a night,still on benzos and my tolerance has goen ou tthe window.
here is the problem,I recently "just stopped the gabapentin" on dec27,2012the gabapentin and sleep is impossible,I had gi issues but nowThe GI issues have settled .I am left with the worst anxiety,no appetite ,aragopobia and troubled sleep.
On halloween I landed in hosptial with pancreattis ,nearly died.I dont drink or do other drugs so I figure it was related to lyrica W/d.
The Gi issues,the anxiety and the absolute hell of detox from both lyrica and gabapentin is almost too mch for this old lady.And it has been 30 days !does this end?

I need some serious help here and believe it or not u guys know more about drugs than doctors.
I have a 20yr benzo habit,now a mix of ativan and 10mgs valium.
I am in some deep sh**t here and could use any guidance.
My idea was to detox from lyrica first then attack benzos,but my anxiety is out of this world and i am so depressed.
i tried upping the benzos to no avail, I realize my benzo use is complicating the w/d but hey will take along time to detox from.
Please,if you have any ideas why my body has gone haywirewould be grateful.I have lost 30pounds in 30 days ,I wake up wretching.
people have siad they feel lyrica has changed their insides in some weird way.I would agree but is it permanent?
cant live likethis.
I have horrifc breathing issues with sleep apnea.so many drugs are off limits.
.Its been 30 days and i have gabapentin BUT I WONT TAKE IT,I figure the wd is 30days now so I would have to start over.
3and 1/2 yrs of lyrica with benzos and here i am with horrific issues.
Please anyone that can give me some ideas -one dr says say go bk to gabapentin and w/d agian that would mean more pain wouldnt it?,they dont give a sh*t,but I do.I would be grateful for some response.
This is nothing short of hell,and I can only imagine the benzo withdrawl.
thank you for your response.please,please dont bury my thread in the lyrica thread,someone here must know something as you are all knowledgable about drugs.Drs in my country have no clue about w/d...its hopeless.I am 57yrs old and feel like i ownt make it thru this,there must be some reason for these issues,did I quit the gabapentin too suddenly? it houhgt i was a low dose?.I am in a world of crap and am so determined to stay off the lyrica/gabapentin and then tackle the benzos.Maybe i did it back wards? benzo first then lyrica?but the lyrica was killing me fast-I am getting really depressed.I was pretty dumb to take it in the firstplace along w benzos.
anyone ,please chime in.thanks in advance
Katy

Hi Katy, I can relate as I have been on Lyrica for 6-7 years now, and very high doses sometimes upto 900-1200mg/day (rarely but I did do it sometimes). My tolerance to benzos and to Lyrica is out the friggin Window. I am trying to work with my doctor, to get off the narcotics first. Since I am also on HydroMorphContin 30mg's, Lyrica, Effexor XR, and Diazepam 30mg/day - but have been taking extra Bromazepam, as I find Bromazepam one of the best benzo's that suits my needs.

But I can no longer function like this. I don't even get high with the Hydromorph, it just helps me maintain.

Sorry, I gotta get to bed. But I will finish up this story tomorrow.. I wish you well and all the best and hopefully have more answers for you. the GABA system is very complex, and very hard to treat.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Have you talked to your doctor about all this??

So you completely stopped both the pregabalin (Lyrica) and the gabapentin just over a month ago? Plus you also stopped taking all your benzos except 4mg/day of lorazepam (Ativan)? EDIT: Or are you still also taking 5mg diazepam (Valium), like you said in your other thread?

Different people have very different sensitivities to pregabalin withdrawal, some people can stop without any withdrawal symptoms or with very minimal symptoms, whereas some people do have severe and long-lasting withdrawals. And you could be having symptoms from greatly reducing your benzo use as well. But you also really need to consider any physical or mental health issues that you may have, the pregabalin could have been masking them.

Don't give up hope. Try to find a really good doctor and/or other health care practitioner (integrative physician, naturopath etc if you can afford one).

Have you been gradually starting to feel better at all?

The Lyrica withdrawal forums/communities can be kind of a bad influence some times, as people will attribute every single problem they have to stopping Lyrica, and make the situation sound hopeless, and you mainly see people posting who do believe they have serious very long lasting withdrawals and don't really get to hear from the people who did recover. Sometimes obsessing over withdrawals can be counter-productive, or make you miss out on health issues that aren't directly attributable to withdrawals.

 

[pasha]

^Pregabalin withdrawal for me is the most brutal of all withdrawals especially from a psychological stand point. Benzodiazepines do not affect it whatsoever aside from removing some of the intense anxiety.

I've found magnesium, gotu kola, phenobarbital, opioids and cannabis to be extremely helpful, just make sure not to substitute one addiction for another. Taper slowly over a period of 2 weeks to 1 month and make sure you do not consume benzodiazepines or GABAergics during your taper and only after it if needed.

Pregabalin withdrawals are extremely drawn out and the depression can last for months. The acute phase includes many physical symptoms resembling those of opioid withdrawal, and the post acute phase are psychological symptoms identical to those of acute benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Be careful with this one, I lived in a country where this substance was OTC. Believe me when I say it has a huge potential for addiction. Kidney failure and seizures are also present when abused in high doses of between 3000 milligrams and 10000 milligrams.

You have the worst withdrawal in the world ahead of you,

^QFT

Gabapentin and pregabalin withdrawals are extremely difficult to manage, very severe, causing the user trouble in ceasing their use.

If you want to get off gabapentin relatively easily, you must treat it like a benzodiazepine and taper slowly. When the taper is done benzodiazepines can be used to ease the symptoms but to a very limited extent. Acute phase withdrawal from calcium-channel-blockers is similar to opioid withdrawal and can last weeks, with the post acute phase similar to that of acute benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Pain, extreme depression, diopheresis, crippling anxiety, muscle tension, and even seizures are some of the common withdrawal symptoms.

Things that can help are cannabis, soft opioids such as codiene, phenobarbital, and as mentioned benzodiazepines.

Once your off them work out a different pain management plan with your doctor.

I emphasize with you since I have been through pregabalin withdrawals numerous times and they are simply inhumane. I have tried the rotation method but their withdrawals deny me any clinical benefit from opioids. If you have any questions on how to manage them feel free to ask via PM or this thread.

Good luck.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

OP, please don't make two of the exact same threads... it's confusing for everyone and not the way to get answers. I merged your other thread that only had one reply into this one that had more discussion.

One thread at a time pleasseee.

Thanks.

 

[Ninjacandy]

In my humble opinion, i would think that it would be less painful for you, if you taper with the benzos first, since lyrica can cover up a lot of the benzo withdrawal symptoms you might get.

And also, lyrica greatly potentiales benzos, so when you quit lyrica, you also kinda get benzo wd's.
that's because when you remove the pregabalin, the benzos are not potentialed anymore.
I read somewhere on bluelight, that lyrica wd's were much worse for people who took benzos with it because both drugs were quite a lot potentiated by each other

 

[Dagda Mochta]

I would have stayed on the Lyrica and gabapentin and quit the benzos first. I'd up the Valium, drop the Ativan, taper off the Valium, then work on getting off the Lyrica and leave the gabapentin for last. Yes, it will take a long time, but its something that cannot be rushed. Your doses aren't huge, but you've been on the benzos a LONG time.

If you want to get off these drugs safely, you are going to have to do it very slowly. I think the physical stress from withdrawing too quickly would be more detrimental to your health than that which the drugs are already causing. Then again, I'm no doctor. Why do you think the Lyrica had something to do with your pancreatitis?

It's sad but true that most doctors have little idea of what they're doing when it comes to benzo withdrawal, and even less with Lyrica. You are in a very difficult situation and I sympathize.

You should definitely seek out a new doctor.

 

[katy1954]

thank you ,yes I am draggin myself to appointments to get some physcial tests and such.really trying

 

[laCster]

Hey good luck! Things will get better after a while, time heals all!
Keep with it.

If I were you I would really investigate your diet and exercise. Exercise helps sooo much with anxiety and depression, and if you eat shit, you will feel like shit!
Good luck

 

[Supeudol]

Fuck man, your post scares the shit out of me.

I'm on 50mg a day of Valium for generalized anxiety. Your complete lack of simple punctuation and all around communication blows my mind.

Fuck man, seriously. Your post is making me question my prescription entirely. Please tell me your IQ was at this level before you started on benzos. I'm not trying to be mean, Im seriously concerned. I didn't know one could survive with the communication skills you have.

IQ level? A persons IQ could be 100% spot on, and that person could not know anything about how drugs work. So, quit trying to be a dick. You little kiddie, who goes around tried to Scam me locally? Buddy, I'm almost 26 years old, you are not even 21. You are 18. Whoever has you on 50mg of Valium per day is an idiot.

I apologize to OP. I can relate, as I have been on Lyrica for about 6 or 7 years, and tolerance builds. It gets harder and harder withdraw.